Influence of electromagnetic field on soliton-mediated charge transport in biological systems

Abstract

It is shown that electromagnetic fields affect dynamics of Davydov's solitons which provide charge transport processes in macromolecules during metabolism of the system. There is a resonant frequency of the field at which it can cause the transition of electrons from bound soliton states into delocalised states. Such decay of solitons reduces the effectiveness of charge transport, and, therefore, inhibits redox processes. Solitons radiate their own electromagnetic field of characteristic frequency determined by their average velocity. This self-radiated field leads to synchronization of soliton dynamics and charge transport processes, and is the source of the coherence in the system. Exposition of the system to the oscillating electromagnetic field of the frequency, which coincides with the eigen-frequency of solitons can enhance eigen-radiation of solitons, and, therefore, will enhance synchronization of charge transpor, stimulate the redox processes and increase coherence in the system. Electromagnetic oscillating field causes also ratchet phenomenon of solitons, i.e., drift of solitons in macromolecules in the presence of unbiased periodic field. Such additional drift enhances the charge transport processes. It is shown that temperature facilitates the ratchet drift. In particular, temperature fluctuations lead to the lowering of the critical value of the intensity and period of the field, above which the drift of solitons takes place. Moreover, there is a stochastic resonance in the soliton dynamics in external electromagnetic fields. This means, that there is some optimal temperature at which the drift of solitons is maximal.

• Biological effects of electromagnetic field
• charge transport
• coherence
• ratchet dynamics
• soliton
• stochastic resonance

Acknowledgments

This paper is devoted to the memory of my great friend Emilio Del Giudice. The author expresses her sincere thanks to L. Cruzeiro, A. Eremko, B. Piette and W. Zakrzewski for fruitful collaboration.

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest. The research has been done under the partial support from the Fund of Fundamental Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Notes

* In the memory of Emilio Del Giudice