Modeling of the energy transfer process in microtubules

TL;DR

This paper models the energy transfer in microtubules, showing it involves quantum mechanisms like excitons and resonant processes, suggesting a signal transmission function within cellular structures.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed simulation of energy transfer mechanisms in microtubules, highlighting the quantum nature and mixed transfer processes involved.

Findings

Energy transfer involves exciton coherence in strong dipole interactions.

Weaker interactions facilitate inductive-resonant energy transfer.

Microtubules may function as quantum signal transmitters.

Abstract

In the work the process of the energy transfer in the cell microtubules is simulated. A system of tryptophans connected by Coulomb dipole-dipole interaction is discussed as the energy carriers. The work models the conditions under which the migration of energy along the tryptophan chain in the microtubule is possible. It was shown the transfer mechanism has a mixed nature. Thus, within two or three tryptophans with a strong dipole-dipole interaction, the energy transformation process occurs due to an exciton coherent mechanism. In cases of weaker dipole-dipole interaction, the energy transformation process occurs due to an inductive-resonant mechanism. The results of the work allow us talk about a possible signal function of a microtubules, transmitting signals about processes locally induced in its dipole-dipole structure. The energy transfer in microtubules has been determined as a quantum phenomenon.