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 Figure 1 - The myosin engine domain with MgADP bound (an ATP analog) as determined by x-ray crystallography[7]. |
While most biochemical studies of actomyosin and other proteins ignore the delicate nature of quantum mechanical effects such as superposition, coherence and entanglement, there is much to be gained from such models. For instance, regulatory molecules and pharmaceuticals may interact with the protein not only as a lock and key, but as several locks and several keys. However, the exact geometry of the super cooled region of this ATP bound engine (figure 1), upon which the coherence and entanglement would depend, is not known. Although quantum mechanical models of proteins are currently too computationally complex for our fastest supercomputers, molecular dynamics simulations may help to elucidate the mechanisms by which the heat is pumped out of the frozen core, thus revealing the boundary of the coherence. Novel biophysical methods resulting from the fusion of biology and quantum mechanics have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of both fields.
As biologists begin to realize the importance of nanoscale phenomena to their research, quantum biology is emerging as an important discipline. At a time when numerous physicists are racing to construct quantum computers, molecular biologists may unknowingly be racing to dismantle them.
"Biology is not about applying quantum mechanics as it is already known through the experiences of traditional physics, but rather about an attempt to extend quantum mechanics in the manner that the physicists have not tried." [8]
First Page: Quantum Biology
Acknowledgements - Thank you Koichiro Matsuno for reviewing the text and for the enlightening comments.
References:
[7] Gulick AM, Bauer CB, Thoden JB, Rayment I, 'X-ray structures of the MgADP, MgATPgammaS, and MgAMPPNP complexes of the Dictyostelium discoideum myosin motor domain.' Biochemistry (Sep 30, 1997) 36 (39), 11619-28.
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Image created by your about nanotechnology guide with 32-bit RasWin modeling software.
[8] Koichiro Matsuno, Raymond C. Paton, 'Is there a biology of quantum information?' BioSystems (2000) 55, 39-46.
Keywords: quantum biology actomyosin myosin engine domain figure molecular simulation ATP lock and key computer novel biophysical methods physics matsuno paton biosystems super cooled coherence entanglement pharmaceutical superposition rasmol model image graphic gulick x-ray structures