Ultraviolet superradiance from mega-networks of tryptophan in neuron fibers (IMAGE)
Caption
Large quantum optical networks of tryptophan in protein architectures – the kinds found in mammalian brains, but also in all eukaryotes and even in some bacteria – influence their collective response to an ultraviolet light stimulus. These lattices of tryptophan, an amino acid that strongly absorbs and emits in the ultraviolet, are scaffolded within much larger protein assemblies that self-organize in neurons, centrioles, cilia, and flagella. The existence of such a cooperative and ultrafast optical response in cytoskeletal filaments, neuron fibers, and other cellular organelles reveals their ability to process electromagnetic energy and information in unanticipated ways. Life has thus found a way to exploit molecular symmetries to enhance collective quantum optical behaviors, which are robust to warm and wet environments. To find out more, visit the Quantum Biology Laboratory.
Credit
Quantum Biology Laboratory: Nathan Babcock and Philip Kurian
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