Pore translocation of polymer chains with physical knots

The driven traslocation of knotted chains through narrow pores has important implications for single-molecule manipulation contexts. Its complex phenomenology\footnote{A. Rosa, M. Di Ventra and C. Micheletti. \textit{Phys. Rev. Lett}, 2012, 109 , 118301} is, however, still largely unexplored, both as a function of knot complexity and the magnitude of the driving, translocating force. We accordingly report on a systematic theoretical and computational investigation of both aspects. In particular we consider the case of flexible chains accommodating a large repertoire of knots that are driven through pores too narrow to allow for their passage. We show that the observed rich translocation phenomenology can be rationalised in a transparent mechanical framework that can further be used for predictive purposes\footnote{A.Suma, A. Rosa and C. Micheletti. \textit{Pore translocation of knotted polymer chains, submitted}, 2015}.