Quantum spin effects at the origin of energetic bioprocesses

Basic data for this project

Description

Homochirality—the uniform "handedness" of biological molecules—is a defining feature of life on Earth. For example, amino acids are typically found in their left-handed (L) form, while sugars predominantly exist in their right-handed (D) form. However, maintaining this molecular asymmetry requires biological systems to fight entropy, which comes at an energy cost. This raises a fundamental question: does homochirality provide an adaptive advantage that justifies the energetic expense of preserving it?This project explores a potential link between homochirality and one of the most essential biological functions: electron transport. Electron transfer reactions power metabolic processes in cells, and given the chirality of biomolecules, it is natural to ask whether their handedness affects electron transport efficiency.Remarkably, recent discoveries in physics have revealed a phenomenon called Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS), where electron transport through chiral molecules depends on electron spin. This effect has been observed in nucleic acids and various peptides, suggesting that quantum spin properties may play a role in biological electron transfer.We will investigate how CISS influences biological electron transport. Specifically, we aim to understand how spin-dependent quantum transport affects bioenergetic processes such as enzymatic catalysis and whether spin selectivity enhances the efficiency in key biological systems like hydrogenases and photosynthesis.