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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Biochemistry and Chemical Biology Forum => Topic started by: paperclip on August 21, 2005, 03:20:25 AM

Title: Quantum Tunnelling
Post by: paperclip on August 21, 2005, 03:20:25 AM
Scientists at the University of Leicester have shown that the textbook explanation of how enzymes work is wrong - at least for some enzymes.
Title: Re:Quantum Tunnelling
Post by: sdekivit on August 21, 2005, 05:48:20 AM
intertesting  :) can you explain me what they've found or where can i read it ?
Title: Re:Quantum Tunnelling
Post by: paperclip on August 21, 2005, 06:06:21 AM
Sdekivit (how do you pronounce?)


http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/2003/pdf/7505x0601.pdf
Title: Re:Quantum Tunnelling
Post by: gregpawin on August 22, 2005, 04:38:38 AM
I wouldn't go as far as saying that they are redefining how enzymes work... all molecules experience tunneling of some sort.  Hydrogen very often tunnels through rotational barriers and even through the nucleus as with ammonia; however, all this is described in the wavefunction of the molecule...  what I guess the article is trying to say is that, their approximation methods are underestimating the importance of tunneling in their models.  As with the case with anything larger than helium, wavefunctions need to be approximated using a variety of methods
Title: Re:Quantum Tunnelling
Post by: paperclip on August 25, 2005, 07:33:57 AM
What about richochet in a laser. Has that got to do with 'little thingsof everythings' ? Anyway, don't quite understand what richochet has to do with it.