A quantum model for controlled enzymic reactions

Abstract

A quantum model for the general enzymic reaction,E+S ⇌ ES → P, is presented, starting with the assumptions that any chemical substanceS, which may be a substrate for a particularE _(S)-enzyme is a microphysical system and any enzymeE-molecule, capable of interacting with anS-substrate is a “measuring system” which will “measure” one or more of theS-observables. According to the above assumptions a stochastic model of the reaction is constructed and a computer simulation of the steady state performed. The results thus obtained predicted fluctuations in the enzymic reaction rate, function of the substrate “perturbation”.

On an experimental basis it is demonstrated that the irradiation of an enzymic substrate with low energies results in the inducement of a dose-dependent oscillatory behavior in the corresponding enzymic reaction rate.

In the

reaction type, the oscillations thus induced in theE-activity by the corresponding substrates are out-of-phase, realizing a biochemical discriminating net. Likewise, in an$S_1 \xleftarrow{{E_1 }}S\xrightarrow{{E_2 }}S_2$ reaction type, the oscillations induced by the irradiatedS-substrate in the activities of the respective enzyme, realize a biochemical switching net.