On macroscopic quantum phenomena in biomolecules and cells: from Levinthal to Hopfield.

Dejan Raković,Milenko Plavšić,Stevo Jaćimovski,Miroljub Dugić,Jasmina Jeknić-Dugić,Jovan Setrajčić

doi:10.1155/2014/580491

Abstract

In the context of the macroscopic quantum phenomena of the second kind, we hereby seek for a solution-in-principle of the long standing problem of the polymer folding, which was considered by Levinthal as (semi)classically intractable. To illuminate it, we applied quantum-chemical and quantum decoherence approaches to conformational transitions. Our analyses imply the existence of novel macroscopic quantum biomolecular phenomena, with biomolecular chain folding in an open environment considered as a subtle interplay between energy and conformation eigenstates of this biomolecule, governed by quantum-chemical and quantum decoherence laws. On the other hand, within an open biological cell, a system of all identical (noninteracting and dynamically noncoupled) biomolecular proteins might be considered as corresponding spatial quantum ensemble of these identical biomolecular processors, providing spatially distributed quantum solution to a single corresponding biomolecular chain folding, whose density of conformational states might be represented as Hopfield-like quantum-holographic associative neural network too (providing an equivalent global quantum-informational alternative to standard molecular-biology local biochemical approach in biomolecules and cells and higher hierarchical levels of organism, as well).

Highlights

Quantum mechanics appeared as a theory of microscopic physical systems and phenomena at small space-time scales; typically, quantum phenomena are manifested at dimensions smaller than 1 nm and time intervals shorter than 1 μs
From the very beginning of the quantum mechanical founding the question of its universality was raised, that is, the question of general validity of the quantum-physical laws for macroscopic phenomena, usually treated by the methods of classical physics
The situation is complicated by the existence of different schools of quantum mechanics, arguing about physical-epistemological status of the so-called collapse of the wave function

Summary

Introduction

Within an open biological cell, a system of (noninteracting and dynamically noncoupled) Nk proteins identical in their primary chemical structure (and their biomolecular targets) might be considered as corresponding global spatial quantum ensemble of Nk identical biomolecular processors, providing a spatially distributed quantum solution to corresponding single local biomolecular chain folding (and key-lock recognition process)—whose time-adapting density of conformational states _ρkSk (t) might be represented as global cell’s Hopfield-like quantum-holographic associative neural network too [41, 42] (cf Figure 2 and its figure caption for further explanation). A series of all k intracellular and extracellular environmentally driven (compositionally/chemically or thermally/optically) local biochemically coupled reactions might be equivalently considered as a series of all k corresponding intracellular and extracellular global Hopfieldlike quantum holographically coupled associative neural network layers—providing an equivalent global quantuminformational alternative to standard molecular-biology local biochemical approach in biomolecules and cells (and higher hierarchical levels of organism, as well).

Discussion and Conclusion

Disclosure