BioTech Encyclopedia

Quantum biology (photosynthesis, enzyme tunneling): uses in research

Also: quantum coherence, FMO complex, hydrogen tunneling

Whether living things use quantum effects. Enzyme hydrogen tunneling is well supported; long-lived quantum coherence in photosynthesis is disputed.

Open questions

Gaps stated by the researchers themselves.

  • Whether quantum coherence plays a functional role in photosynthesis and magnetoreception is debated. Lambert 2012

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Timeline

  1. 2007 Coherence in photosynthesis (claimed)
  2. 2012 Quantum biology review
  3. 2013 Hydrogen tunneling in enzymes
  4. 2017 Coherence claim challenged

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Start here · reviewreview biology 2013

Hydrogen tunneling in enzymes

Klinman and Kohen reviewed how quantum hydrogen tunneling in enzymatic C–H bond cleavage reveals the role of protein dynamics in catalysis.

As reported in: Klinman, Kohen (2013). Hydrogen Tunneling Links Protein Dynamics to Enzyme Catalysis. Annual Review of Biochemistry. doi:10.1146/annurev-biochem-051710-133623

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biology

lab biology 2007

Coherence in photosynthesis (claimed)

Engel and colleagues reported evidence of long-lived electronic quantum coherence in energy transfer in the FMO photosynthetic complex.

As reported in: Engel, Calhoun, Read et al. (2007). Evidence for wavelike energy transfer through quantum coherence in photosynthetic systems. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature05678

Abstract only

lab biology 2017

Coherence claim challenged

Duan and colleagues concluded nature does not rely on long-lived electronic quantum coherence for photosynthetic energy transfer.

As reported in: Duan, Prokhorenko, Cogdell et al. (2017). Nature does not rely on long-lived electronic quantum coherence for photosynthetic energy transfer. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1702261114

Read free · publisher open access

review biology 2012

Quantum biology review

Lambert and colleagues reviewed possible quantum effects in photosynthesis, bird magnetoreception and other systems, with evidence for and against a functional role.

As reported in: Lambert, Chen, Cheng et al. (2012). Quantum biology. Nature Physics. doi:10.1038/nphys2474

Abstract only

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