A quantum mechanical approach to random X chromosome inactivation

AIMS Biophysics

Rodrigo Lobato¹ 

[1] 159 rue Archambault, L'assomption, Quebec, Canada;

关键词: x chromosome inactivation;    chromosome pairing;    quantum approach;    i-motif;    proton tunneling;   

DOI  :  10.3934/biophy.2021026

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The X chromosome inactivation is an essential mechanism in mammals' development, that despite having been investigated for 60 years, many questions about its choice process have yet to be fully answered. Therefore, a theoretical model was proposed here for the first time in an attempt to explain this puzzling phenomenon through a quantum mechanical approach. Based on previous data, this work theoretically demonstrates how a shared delocalized proton at a key base pair position could explain the random, instantaneous, and mutually exclusive nature of the choice process in X chromosome inactivation. The main purpose of this work is to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the X inactivation mechanism with a model proposal that can complement the existent ones, along with introducing a quantum mechanical approach that could be applied to other cell differentiation mechanisms.

【 授权许可】

Unknown