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The proton transport is accompanied by electron polarization in chiral media. Naama Goren<\/p>\nMolecular dynamics are essential for life, an intricate process fundamentally driven by the proton.<\/p>\n
We encounter them every day, linked to the pH of our soaps and lotions.<\/p>\n
Protons play a vital role within living systems for energy production in cells and countless other functions.<\/p>\n
For years, scientists believed proton transport in biology was primarily a chemical process \u2013 a simple hopping game between water molecules and amino acids.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But now, new research is revealing a surprising twist, a quantum secret hidden within the fabric of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur findings show that the way protons move in biological systems isn\u2019t just about chemistry \u2014 it\u2019s also about quantum physics. This opens new doors for understanding how information and energy are transferred inside living things,\u201d said Naama Goren from the Department of Applied Physics and the Nano Center at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proton transport is accompanied by electron polarization in chiral media. Naama Goren<\/p>\n
Quantum secret <\/p>\n
A team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, along with Prof. Ron Naaman from the Weizmann Institute and Prof. Nurit Ashkenasy from Ben Gurion University, made this major scientific leap.<\/p>\n
They offer a new understanding of life\u2019s internal mechanisms, driven by an unexpected link between electron and proton movement.<\/p>\n
The team found, for the first time, that the movement of protons in biological systems is not \u201cpurely chemical.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The research demonstrates a direct link between electron spin and proton transfer within chiral biological environments, such as proteins<\/a>.<\/p>\n The team focused on biological crystals, including lysozyme, an enzyme found throughout the living world.<\/p>\n What they uncovered was surprising: electrons and protons don\u2019t just move independently; their movements are intimately linked.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Electron with spin<\/p>\n The team showcased that by injecting electrons with a specific spin \u2013 a quantum property that makes them behave like tiny magnets \u2013 they could influence how easily protons moved through the lysozyme crystal.\u00a0<\/p>\n Interestingly, injecting electrons with one spin made proton movement easier, while injecting electrons with the opposite spin noticeably hindered it.<\/p>\n This remarkable effect is connected to the excitation of what are called chiral phonons \u2013 tiny vibrations within the crystal\u2019s structure.<\/p>\n These vibrations act as a bridge, mediating the interaction between the electron\u2019s spin and the proton<\/a>\u2018s mobility.\u00a0<\/p>\n This phenomenon is rooted in the Chiral Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) effect, which reveals how chiral molecules interact differently with electrons based on their spin.<\/p>\n \u201cThis connection between electron spin and proton movement could lead to new technologies that mimic biological processes, and even new ways to control information transfer inside cells,\u201d said<\/a> Yossi Paltiel, one of the lead authors.\u00a0<\/p>\n The team says that connecting quantum physics and biological chemistry provides a deeper understanding of life\u2019s fundamental mechanisms and opens possibilities for developing technologies that can imitate or manipulate biological processes.<\/p>\n It could also lead to the development of innovative tech in various fields, including energy and nanotechnology.<\/p>\n