Novel Mechanism for Temperature-Independent Transitions in Flexible Molecules: Role of Thermodynamic Fluctuations

作者:Teslenko V I*; Petrov E G; Verkhratsky A; Krishtal O A
来源:Physical Review Letters, 2010, 104(17): 178105.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.178105

摘要

A novel physical mechanism is proposed to explain the temperature-independent transition reactions in molecular systems. The mechanism becomes effective in the case of conformation transitions between quasi-isoenergetic molecular states. It is shown that at room temperatures, stochastic broadening of molecular energy levels predominates the energy of low-frequency vibrations accompanying the transition. This leads to a cancellation of temperature dependence in the stochastically averaged rate constants. As an example, a physical interpretation of temperature-independent onset of P2X(3) receptor desensitization in neuronal membranes is provided.

  • 出版日期2010-4-30