Quantum and Classical Effects in DNA Point Mutations

Our work dives into the fascinating world of Quantum Biology, focusing on how protons move along the hydrogen bonds in DNA. These movements can sometimes create temporary changes in the structure of DNA, leading to what we call “tautomeric bases.” Although these changes are brief, they can cause genetic mutations, which might even lead to cancer.

We used advanced computer models to simulate how these proton transfers happen between the standard DNA base pairs (A-T and G-C) and their rare tautomeric forms (A*-T* and G*-C*). Our findings suggest that while changes in A-T pairs are unlikely to have lasting effects, the G-C pairs might experience more significant changes, which could potentially be passed on during DNA replication.

Interestingly, although there are high energy barriers that usually prevent these changes, the rare forms of these DNA bases can last longer than we expected. We also discovered that to understand how these proton movements affect DNA, we need to consider the quantum nature of protons and how they interact with their environment, especially the noisy surroundings inside cells, like water molecules. By combining molecular simulations with quantum theory, we were able to estimate how often these proton transfers might happen in real-life conditions.

Our research also touches on the role of enzymes, like helicase, which may help prevent these quantum-based mutations from spreading during DNA replication.

To help you better understand the context, we’ll begin with a general introduction to Quantum Biology—a field that explores how quantum mechanics influences biological processes.