Quantum theory of hydrogen key of point mutation in DNA

TL;DR

This paper presents a quantum mechanical model explaining how hydrogen atom distribution influences DNA point mutations during replication, highlighting the roles of proton tunneling mechanisms and temperature effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum theory model for DNA point mutations based on proton tunneling mechanisms during replication.

Findings

Point mutation probability is proportional to temperature.

Mutation probability decreases with higher replication velocity.

Quantum tunneling mechanisms influence mutation likelihood.

Abstract

Quantum theory of hydrogen atoms distribution between two complementary nucleotide bases in DNA double helix at moment of replication has been proposed in this work. It bases on two mechanisms of proton tunneling: the Andreev-Meyerovich mechanism with spontaneous phonon radiation and the Kagan-Maximov (Flynn-Stoneham) mechanism at phonon scattering. According to the presented model, the probability of proton location in shallow potential well (point mutation form) is directly proportional to temperature. It was shown that the point mutation probability decreases with increasing replication velocity.