Quantum Signatures in Redox Cell Biology
Abstract
Quantum biology is the study of quantum effects on biochemical mechanisms and biological function. We propose to study a novel domain of quantum biology- the control of the biological production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by influencing coherent spin dynamics in a radical pair (RP) reaction. This project aims to elucidate biophysical mechanisms of ROS partitioning in redox biology and the impact on cellular bioenergetics in human neural cells. We recently developed an innovative methodology to stimulate and measure ROS branching in cellular ROS production, presumably formed from reduced flavoenzyme (FADH2) catalysis of dioxygen. In our preliminary work, cellular ROS levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2•-) were shown to change characteristically upon stimulation, suggesting a common terminal point. The results indicated that spin biochemistry processes can alter O2•- and H2O2 balance in cell biology, by modulating the evolution of the spin-correlated radical pair FADH•-O2•-. This proposal intends to demonstrate that the evolution of FADH•-O2•- radical pairs in flavoenzymes can alter cellular ROS bioenergetic signaling channels. To further support our working hypothesis, the proposed study integrates four separate areas of research in ROS cell biology- magnetic resonance, genetic sensors, bioenergetics, and deep learning models of redox processes. This work will allow us to capture signatures of quantum processes in ROS spin biochemistry at molecular level and to correlate it with effects persisting at the cellular level. The results of this investigation will have implications for fundamental understanding of ROS oxidative signaling and possibly for the therapeutic intervention in ROS-related quantum biology and improved human performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2025
- Source ID
- FA95502410255
Entities
People
- Robert Usselman
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Florida Institute of Technology
- United States Air Force