Experimental assessment of the contribution of electrodynamic interactions to long-distance recruitment of biomolecular partners: Theoretical basis

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2012 Apr;85(4 Pt 1):041904. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.85.041904. Epub 2012 Apr 6.

Abstract

Highly specific spatiotemporal interactions between cognate molecular partners essentially sustain all biochemical transactions in living matter. That such an exquisite level of accuracy may result from encountering forces solely driven by thermal diffusive processes is unlikely. Here we propose a yet unexplored strategy to experimentally tackle the long-standing question of a possibly active recruitment at a distance of cognate partners of biomolecular reactions via the action of resonant electrodynamic interactions. We considered two simplified models for a preliminary feasibility investigation of the devised methodology. By taking advantage of advanced experimental techniques nowadays available, we propose to measure the characteristic encounter time scales of dually interacting biopartners and to compare them with theoretical predictions worked out in both the presence and absence of putative long-range electromagnetic forces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biopolymers / chemistry*
  • Biopolymers / radiation effects*
  • Colloids / chemistry*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Radiation Dosage

Substances

  • Biopolymers
  • Colloids