Chemical-induced changes in the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in protein polymers

Travis J. A. Craddock; Tatum Hedrick; Isadora Rocha De Abreu

doi:10.1117/12.3003458

13 March 2024 Chemical-induced changes in the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in protein polymers

Travis J. A. Craddock, Tatum Hedrick, Isadora Rocha De Abreu

Proceedings Volume 12863, Quantum Effects and Measurement Techniques in Biology and Biophotonics; 1286304 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003458
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Microtubules are self-assembling biological helical nanotubes made of the protein tubulin that are essential for cell motility, cell architecture, cell division, molecular signaling, and intracellular trafficking. It has been hypothesized that this hollow molecular nanostructure may support optical transitions in photoexcited tryptophan, tyrosine, or phenylalanine amino acid lattices to function as a light-harvester in similar fashion as photosynthetic units; this ability coupled with its shape is analogous to a quantum wire. In support of this, recent experimental work demonstrates that electronic energy can diffuse across microtubules in a manner that cannot be explained by conventional Förster theory making them effective light harvesters. Here we present theoretical work of energy transfer between amino acids in tubulin via dipole excitations in the presence and absence of a chemical perturbation. Results demonstrate the potential for chemical manipulation of the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in microtubule protein structures.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Travis J. A. Craddock, Tatum Hedrick, and Isadora Rocha De Abreu "Chemical-induced changes in the optical properties of aromatic amino acid lattices in protein polymers", Proc. SPIE 12863, Quantum Effects and Measurement Techniques in Biology and Biophotonics, 1286304 (13 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003458

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