Quantum-classical model of retinal photoisomerization reaction in visual pigment rhodopsin.

A quantum-classical model of photoisomerization of the visual pigment rhodopsin chromophore is proposed. At certain (and more realistic) parameter value combinations, the model is shown to accurately reproduce a number of independent experimental data on the photoreaction dynamics: the quantum yield, the time to reach the point of conical intersection of potential energy surfaces, the termination time of the evolution of quantum subsystem, as well as the characteristic low frequencies of retinal molecular lattice fluctuations during photoisomerization. In addition, the model behavior is in good accordance with experimental data about coherence and local character of quantum transition.

[Applied problems of mathematical biology and bioinformatics].

Mathematical biology and bioinformatics represent a new and rapidly progressing line of investigations which emerged in the course of work on the project "Human genome". The main applied problems of these sciences are grug design, patient-specific medicine and nanobioelectronics. It is shown that progress in the technology of mass sequencing of the human genome has set the stage for starting the national program on patient-specific medicine.

[On the possibility of bipolaronic states in DNA].

The possibility of the occurrence of bipolaronic states in homogeneous polynucleotide chains has been considered on the basis of the Holstein-Hubbard model. A phase diagram of the stability of bipolaronic states has been calculated for these chains. It was shown that, with the parameters characteristic for DNA, DNA can exhibit superconductivity with a transition temperature Tc approximately 6 K. The results obtained can serve as the basis for explaining the experiments with DNA superconductivity.

Discrete-breather-assisted charge transport along DNA-like molecular wires.

Mobile discrete breathers (MDBs) are here suggested as localized excitations underlying the trapping and transport of charged particles (electron or hole) along a DNA-like molecular wire with anchored ends such as attached to two electrodes. For illustration the Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois-Holstein (PBDH) model is used. MDBs are excited by imposing appropriate disturbances to velocities or space positions of adjacent nucleotide pairs or lattice units of the wire. They can be directed either towards or away from the wire hence transverse to it. Numerical computer simulations show that a rather stable quasiparticle MDB + electron is possible when just a few of the nucleotide pairs near one of the fixed ends of the wire are excited. For the process to be effective, the charge, e.g., the electron, must be initially placed around the disturbed region of the molecule. Once the MDB + electron quasiparticle is formed it may be transported to quite a long distance up to ca. 60-70 nm in real space. Our findings show that such process does not demand intervention of an externally applied electric field and hence it may be considered as alternative to the polaron transport process.

[Combined hopping-superexchange mechanism of charge transfer in DNA; a model with nearest interactions].

In the framework of the earlier developed combined hopping-superexchange mechanism of charge transfer in DNA, a model with all nearest interactions between nucleobases is proposed. It is shown that the transfer rates for various types of nucleotide sequences calculated within this model are in a good agreement with experimental data.

[Hopping and superexchange mechanisms of charge transport to DNA]. / Pryzhkovyi i superobmennyi mekhanizmy perenosa zariada v DNK.

A theory for charge transport in nucleobase sequences was constructed in which the hole migration proceeds via hopping between guanines. Each hop over the adenine-thymine (A-T) bridge connecting neighboring guanines occurs by means of the superexchange mechanism. The experimental data and theoretical results for various types of nucleobase sequences are compared.

[Dynamics of charge transfer along an oligonucleotide at finite temperature]. / Dinamika perenosa zariada vdol' oligonukleotida pri konechnoi temperature.

The quantum-statistical approach was used to describe the charge transfer in nucleotide sequences. The results of numerical modeling for hole transfer in the GTTGGG sequence with background temperature noise are given. It was shown that, since guanine has an oxidation potential lower than thymine, the hole created at the G donor in this sequence passes through the thymine barrier into the guanine triplet (acceptor) at a time of approximately 10 ps at a temperature of 37 degrees C.

[Modeling of hole transfer dynamics in tetramer GAGG]. / Modelirovanie dinamiki perenosa dyrki v tetramere GAGG.

The hole transfer in the nucleotide sequence GAGG, where guanine G is a donor and the guanine doublet GG is an acceptor, was considered. It was shown that the relaxation of the hole on the acceptor is accompanied by rapid oscillations of the hole between the donor and the acceptor with an oscillation period of a few picoseconds. The calculated slow relaxation of the hole on the acceptor over a period of 2 ns was compared with experimental data.

[Electron transfer between globular proteins. Evaluation of a matrix element]. / Perenos élektrona mezhdu globuliarnymi belkami. Otsenka matrichnogo élementa.

The dependence of the matrix element of the probability of interprotein electron transfer on the mutual orientation of the donor and acceptor centers and the distance between them was calculated. The calculations were made under the assumption that electron transfer proceeds mainly by a collective excitation of polaron nature, like a solvated electron state. The results obtained are consistent with experimental data and indicate the nonexponential behavior of this dependence in the case when the distance transfer is less than 20 A.

[Electron transfer between globular proteins. Dependence of the rate of transfer on distance]. / Perenos élektrona mezhdu globuliarnymi belkami. Zavisimost' skorosti perenosa ot rasstoianiia.

Based on the assumption that electron transfer between globular proteins occurs by a collective excitation of polaron type, the dependence of the rate of this process on the distance between the donor and acceptor centers with regard to their detailed electron structure was calculated. The electron structure of the heme was calculated by the quantum-chemical MNDO-PM3 method. The results were compared with experimental data on interprotein and intraglobular electron transfer. It is shown that, in the framework of this model, the electron transfer is not exponential and does not require a particular transfer pathway since the whole protein macromolecule is involved in the formation of the electron excited state.

Scaling of temperature dependence of charge mobility in molecular Holstein chains.

The temperature dependence of a charge mobility in a model DNA based on a Holstein Hamiltonian is calculated for four types of homogeneous sequences It has turned out that upon rescaling all four types are quite similar. Two types of rescaling, i.e., those for low and intermediate temperatures, are found. The curves obtained are approximated on a logarithmic scale by cubic polynomials. We believe that for model homogeneous biopolymers with parameters close to the designed ones, one can assess the value of the charge mobility without carrying out resource-intensive direct simulation, just by using a suitable approximating function.

On the Possibility of Electronic DNA Nanobiochips.

We have considered as a theoretical possibility for the development of a nanobiochip the operation principle of which is based on measuring conductance in single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. Calculations have demonstrated that in the majority of cases the conductance of double-stranded nucleotides considerably exceeds that of single-stranded ones. The results obtained are in agreement with recent experiments on measuring the oligonucleotide conductance. It has been shown that an electronic biochip containing 11 nucleotide pairs will recognize ≈97% sequences. It has also been demonstrated that the percentage of identifiable sequences will grow with the sequence length.

Sequence dependent hole evolution in DNA.

The paper examines thedynamical behavior of a radical cation(G(+*)) generated in adouble stranded DNA for differentoligonucleotide sequences. The resonancehole tunneling through an oligonucleotidesequence is studied by the method ofnumerical integration of self-consistentquantum-mechanical equations. The holemotion is considered quantum mechanicallyand nucleotide base oscillations aretreated classically. The results obtaineddemonstrate a strong dependence of chargetransfer on the type of nucleotidesequence. The rates of the hole transferare calculated for different nucleotidesequences and compared with experimentaldata on the transfer from (G(+*))to a GGG unit.

Soliton-like Solutions and Electron Transfer in DNA.

We consider various mechanisms of long-range electron transfer in DNAwhich enable us to explain recent controversial experiments. We show thatcontinuous super-exchange theory can explain the values of electron rateconstants in short fragments of DNA. The soliton-type electron transfer inlong segments of DNA is also dealt with.

A polaron model for electron transfer in globular proteins.

Polaron models have been considered for the electron states in protein globules existing in a solvent. These models account for two fundamental effects, viz, polarization interaction of an electron with the conformational vibrations and the heterogeneity of the medium. Equations have been derived to determine the electron state in a protein globule. The parameters of this state show that it is an extended state with an energy of 2 eV. The electron transfer rate for cyt C self-exchange reaction has been calculated in the polaron model. Reorganization energy, tunneling matrix element and the rate constant have also been estimated. The results are compared with experimental data. The influence of model parameters on the significance of the data obtained has been studied. The potentialities of the model are discussed.

Ferroelectric active models of ion channels in biomembranes.

Ferroactive models of ion channels in the theory of biological membranes are presented. The main equations are derived and their possible solutions are shown. The estimates of some experimentally measured parameters are given. Possible physical consequences of the suggested models are listed and the possibility of their experimental finding is discussed. The functioning of the biomembrane's ion channel is qualitatively described on the basis of the suggested ferroactive models. The main directions and prospects for development of the ferroactive approach to the theory of biological membranes and their structures are indicated.

Superexchange coupling and electron transfer in globular proteins via polaron excitations.

The polaron approach is used to treat long-range electron transfers between globular proteins. A rate expression for the polaron transfer model is given along with a description of appropriate conditions for its use. Assuming that electrons transfer via a superexchange coupling due to a polaron excitation, we have estimated the distance dependence of the rate constant for the self-exchange reactions between globular proteins in solutions. The distance dependence of the polaron coupling and solvent reorganization energy are provided as a basis for understanding and interpreting a long-range electron transfer experiment. The difficulties and problems of the polaron treatment of long-range electron transfers are discussed, and suggestions for new experiments are made.

Superexchange coupling and electron transfer in globular proteins via polaron excitations.

The polaron approach is used to treat long-range electron transfersbetween globular proteins. A rate expression for the polaron transfer model is given along with a description of appropriate conditions forits use. Assuming that electrons transfer via a superexchange couplingdue to a polaron excitation, we have estimated the distance dependenceof the rate constant for the self-exchange reactions between globularproteins in solutions. The distance dependence of the polaron coupling andsolvent reorganization energy are provided as a basis forunderstanding and interpreting a long-range electron transfer experiment.The difficulties and problems of the polaron treatment of long-rangeelectron transfers are discussed, and suggestions for new experimentsare made.