The subdiffusive targeting problem

J Phys Chem B. 2008 Apr 10;112(14):4283-9. doi: 10.1021/jp0749017. Epub 2008 Mar 18.

Abstract

Recent experiments in living cells have observed subdiffusive motion, where the mean squared displacement of a molecule grows sublinearly with time as [x (2)] approximately t(alpha). Motivated by these experiments, we develop a theory for subdiffusion-limited bimolecular enzyme kinetics. As in normal diffusion, the statistics of the reaction times depend on the ratio between the distance to the target and the reaction rate in a scale invariant manner. Contrary to some studies, we find no critical value of alpha and therefore no evidence to suggest that it has been a target of evolutionary optimization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biochemical Phenomena
  • Biochemistry
  • Diffusion
  • Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Kinetics
  • Mathematics
  • Models, Chemical*

Substances

  • Enzymes