Fano resonance line shapes in the Raman spectra of tubulin and microtubules reveal quantum effects

Zhang, Wenxu; Craddock, Travis J. A.; Li, Yajuan; Swartzlander, Mira; Alfano, R. R.; Shi, Lingyan

doi:10.1016/j.bpr.2021.100043

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…This energy transfer was also shown to be reduced in the presence of the anesthetics isoflurane and etomidate demonstrating the chemical manipulation of this optical process. Previous modeling [11,12] and experimental evidence [15] supports that this observed energy transfer in microtubules may be due to a coherent resonance energy transfer mechanism. At its core, this phenomenon is attributable to the optimal packing of chromophores with similar excitation profiles with a significant transition dipole [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Chemical-induced changes in the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in protein polymers

Craddock,

Hedrick,

De Abreu

2024

Quantum Effects and Measurement Techniques in Biology and Biophotonics

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Microtubules are self-assembling biological helical nanotubes made of the protein tubulin that are essential for cell motility, cell architecture, cell division, molecular signaling, and intracellular trafficking. It has been hypothesized that this hollow molecular nanostructure may support optical transitions in photoexcited tryptophan, tyrosine, or phenylalanine amino acid lattices to function as a light-harvester in similar fashion as photosynthetic units; this ability coupled with its shape is analogous to a quantum wire. In support of this, recent experimental work demonstrates that electronic energy can diffuse across microtubules in a manner that cannot be explained by conventional Förster theory making them effective light harvesters. Here we present theoretical work of energy transfer between amino acids in tubulin via dipole excitations in the presence and absence of a chemical perturbation. Results demonstrate the potential for chemical manipulation of the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in microtubule protein structures.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Chemical-induced changes in the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in protein polymers

Craddock,

Hedrick,

De Abreu

2024

Quantum Effects and Measurement Techniques in Biology and Biophotonics

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“…Computational models show that anesthetic molecules might bind in the same regions and hence result in loss of consciousness 601 . In a recent work, Zhang and co-workers observed a connection between electronic states and vibrational states in tubulin and microtubules 602 . However, quantum electronic coherence beyond ultrafast timescales has been recently challenged experimentally 31 .…”

Section: /72mentioning

confidence: 96%

Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism

Zadeh-Haghighi¹,

Simon²

2022

Preprint

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A large and growing body of research shows that weak magnetic fields can significantly influence various biological systems, including plants, animals, and humans. However, the underlying mechanisms behind these phenomena remain elusive. It is remarkable that the magnetic energies implicated in these effects are much smaller than thermal energies. Here we review these observations, of which there are now hundreds, and we suggest that a viable explanation is provided by the radical pair mechanism, which involves the quantum dynamics of the electron and nuclear spins of naturally occurring transient radical molecules. While the radical pair mechanism has been studied in detail in the context of avian magnetoreception, the studies reviewed here show that magnetosensitivity is widespread throughout biology. We review magnetic field effects on various physiological functions, organizing them based on the type of the applied magnetic fields, namely static, hypomagnetic, and oscillating magnetic fields, as well as isotope effects. We then review the radical pair mechanism as a potential unifying model for the described magnetic field effects, and we discuss plausible candidate molecules that might constitute the radical pairs. We review recent studies proposing that the quantum nature of the radical pairs provides promising explanations for xenon anesthesia, lithium effects on hyperactivity, magnetic field and lithium effects on the circadian clock, and hypomagnetic field effects on neurogenesis and microtubule assembly. We conclude by discussing future lines of investigation in this exciting new area of quantum biology related to weak magnetic field effects.

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“…Computational models show that anaesthetic molecules might bind in the same regions and hence result in loss of consciousness [ 606 ]. In a recent work, Zhang and co-workers observed a connection between electronic states and vibrational states in tubulin and microtubules [ 607 ]. However, quantum electronic coherence beyond ultrafast timescales has been recently challenged experimentally [ 30 ].…”

Section: Studies Of the Potential Role Of Radical Pairs In The Brainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism

Zadeh-Haghighi

Simon

2022

J. R. Soc. Interface.

102

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Hundreds of studies have found that weak magnetic fields can significantly influence various biological systems. However, the underlying mechanisms behind these phenomena remain elusive. Remarkably, the magnetic energies implicated in these effects are much smaller than thermal energies. Here, we review these observations, and we suggest an explanation based on the radical pair mechanism, which involves the quantum dynamics of the electron and nuclear spins of transient radical molecules. While the radical pair mechanism has been studied in detail in the context of avian magnetoreception, the studies reviewed here show that magnetosensitivity is widespread throughout biology. We review magnetic field effects on various physiological functions, discussing static, hypomagnetic and oscillating magnetic fields, as well as isotope effects. We then review the radical pair mechanism as a potential unifying model for the described magnetic field effects, and we discuss plausible candidate molecules for the radical pairs. We review recent studies proposing that the radical pair mechanism provides explanations for isotope effects in xenon anaesthesia and lithium treatment of hyperactivity, magnetic field effects on the circadian clock, and hypomagnetic field effects on neurogenesis and microtubule assembly. We conclude by discussing future lines of investigation in this exciting new area of quantum biology.

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Fano resonance line shapes in the Raman spectra of tubulin and microtubules reveal quantum effects

Cited by 11 publications

References 79 publications

Chemical-induced changes in the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in protein polymers

Chemical-induced changes in the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in protein polymers

Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism

Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism

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