Quantum coherence on selectivity and transport of ion channels

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum coherence influences ion selectivity and transport in potassium channels, suggesting that coherence may be maintained in high-throughput ion channels, which could explain their efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum mechanical model using the Lindblad equation to analyze coherence in ion channels, linking quantum effects to ion transport efficiency.

Findings

Quantum coherence persists in high-throughput ion channels.

Coherence oscillates after decoherence time, indicating sustained quantum effects.

The model connects hopping rates with coherence maintenance in ion transport.

Abstract

Recently, it has been suggested that ion channel selectivity filter may exhibit quantum coherence, which may be appropriate to explain ion selection and conduction processes. Potassium channels play a vital role in many physiological processes. One of their main physiological functions is the efficient and highly selective transfer of K+ ions through the membranes into the cells. To do this, ion channels must be highly selective, allowing only certain ions to pass through the membrane, while preventing the others. The present research is an attempt to investigate the relationship between hopping rate and maintaining coherence in ion channels. Using the Lindblad equation to describe a three-level system, the results in different quantum regimes are examined. We studied the distillable coherence and the second order coherence function of the system. The oscillation of distillable coherence from zero, after the decoherence time, and also the behavior of the coherence function clearly show the point that the system is coherent in ion channels with high throughput rates.