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Solitons, bioenergetics, and the mechanism of muscle contraction

1979; Wiley; Volume: 16; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/qua.560160104

1097-461X

A. S. Davydov,

Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies

Abstract The properties of exciton and soliton excitations in one‐dimensional molecular systems and in α‐helical protein molecules are investigated. It is shown that collective excitations—solitons, corresponding to a combination of vibrational excitations in peptide groups and a local deformation of molecules—are possible in α‐helical protein molecules. These excitations move along the molecule without energy losses and are perfect energy carriers. A qualitative description of the shortening in the length of muscular fibers is given using the concept of solitons occurring under the hydrolysis of ATP molecules at the ends of thick fibers contained in the sarcomeres of muscular fibers.