Summary
In biological electron transport the spin, and thus the magnetic property of electrons, is neglected. Furthermore, no attention is paid to the fact that the great majority of biologically important molecules are chiral, and during excitation a magnetic moment is induced in them. It is shown, both theoretically and experimentally, that the magnetic moment of the electron and the magnetic transition moment of the optically active molecules may interact. The main consequences of such an interaction are a higher probability of the occurrence of optically active molecules in triplet states, and the polarization of transported electrons.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashkinazi, M. S., Dolidze, I. &V. A. Egorova, (1967). Photooxydation of tyrosine sensitized by chlorophyll derivates.-Biofysika12, p. 427–432.
Beychock, S. (1966). Circular dichroism of biological macromolecules.-Science154, p. 1288–1299.
Bovey, F. A. (1969). Polymer conformation and configuration.-New York & London, Acad. Press, 112 p.
Brewster, J. H. (1967). Helix models of optical activity.-Topics in Stereochemistry2, p. 1–72.
Davies, M. (1965). Some electrical and optical aspects of molecular behaviour.- Oxford, Pergamon Press, 145 p.
Garay, A. S. (1968). Origin and role of optical isomery in life.-Nature219, p. 338–340.
— (1970). Optical rotatory power and its biological significance.-Fizikai Szemle20, p. 106–116.
— (1971). On the role of molecular chirality in biological electron transport and luminescence.-Life Sciences10, p. 1393–1398.
Holden, M. (1962). Separation by paperchromatography of chlorophylls a and b and some of their breakdown products.-Biochem. biophys. Acta56, p. 378–379.
Ke, B. (1965). Optical rotatory dispersion of chloroplast lamellae fragments.- Arch. Biochem. Biophys.112, p. 554–561.
Moscowitz, A. (1960). Theory and analysis of rotatory dispersion curves.-In:C. Djerassi, Optical rotatory dispersion, p. 150.-New York, McGraw-Hill.
Seely, G. R. (1966). Photochemistry of chlorophylls in vitro.-In:L. P. Vernon &G. R. Seely, ed., The chlorophylls, p. 523–568.-New York & London, Acad. Press.
Tinoco Jr.,I. (1965). Absorption and rotation of polarized light by polymers.-In:B. Pullman &M. Weissbluth, ed., Molecular biophysics, p. 181.-New York & London, Acad. Press.
Ulbricht, T. L. V. (1962). The optical asymmetry of metabolites.-In:M. Florkin &H. S. Mason, ed., Comparative biochemistry4, p. 1–25.-New York & London, Acad. Press.
Wald, G. (1957). The origin of optical activity.-Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.69, p. 352–368.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Note: The term chirality has been introduced byKelvin (Robert Boyle Lecture May 16, 1893, printed in “Baltimore Lectures” Appendix H p. 439, 1904). He wrote: “I call any geometrical figure, or any group of points chiral, and say it has chirality, if its image in a plane mirror can not be brought to coincide with itself”.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garay, A.S., Czégé, J., Tolvaj, L. et al. Biological significance of molecular chirality in energy balance and metabolism. Acta Biotheor 22, 34–43 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01500603
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01500603