Do quantum effects hold together DNA condensates?
Alfredo Iorio, Samik Sen, Siddhartha Sen
TL;DR
This paper investigates whether quantum vacuum effects, specifically Casimir interactions, can act as a binding force to hold DNA molecules together in condensates, challenging classical electrostatic explanations.
Contribution
It introduces a quantum fluctuation analysis of DNA interactions, showing that Casimir forces can significantly contribute to DNA condensation beyond classical electrostatics.
Findings
Quantum fluctuations induce a strong many-body Casimir interaction.
Casimir forces can potentially serve as the 'glue' in DNA condensates.
The interaction is numerically computed for various DNA configurations.
Abstract
The classical electrostatic interaction between DNA molecules in water in the presence of counterions is reconsidered and we propose it is governed by a modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation. Quantum fluctuations are then studied and shown to lead to a vacuum interaction that is numerically computed for several configurations of many DNA strands and found to be strongly many-body. This Casimir vacuum interaction can be the ``glue'' holding together DNA molecules into aggregates.
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Taxonomy
TopicsElectrostatics and Colloid Interactions · Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies · Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies