Quantum coherence in ion channels: Resonances, Transport and Verification

TL;DR

This paper explores the possibility of quantum coherence in ion channels, proposing that quantum resonances could serve as signatures detectable via spectroscopy or conduction measurements, potentially impacting understanding of ion selectivity.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that quantum coherence may exist in ion channels and suggests experimental methods to detect it through resonances and spectroscopy.

Findings

Quantum resonances can indicate quantum coherence in ion channels.

Periodic modulation of ion channels can reveal signatures of quantum effects.

Feasible experimental paths for detecting quantum coherence are discussed.

Abstract

Recently it was demonstrated that long-lived quantum coherence exists during excitation energy transport in photosynthesis. It is a valid question up to which length, time and mass scales quantum coherence may extend, how to one may detect this coherence and what if any role it plays for the dynamics of the system. Here we suggest that the selectivity filter of ion channels may exhibit quantum coherence which might be relevant for the process of ion selectivity and conduction. We show that quantum resonances could provide an alternative approch to ultrafast 2D spectroscopy to probe these quantum coherences. We demonstrate that the emergence of resonances in the conduction of ion channels that are modulated periodicallly by time dependent external electric fields can serve as signitures of quantum coherence in such a system. Assessments of experimental feasibility and specific paths towards the experimental realization of such experiments are presented. We show that this may be probed by direct 2-D spectroscopy or through the emergence of resonances in the conduction of ion channels that are modulated periodically by time dependent external electric fields.