Evidence for a possible quantum effect on the formation of lithium-doped amorphous calcium phosphate from solution

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Straub, Joshua S.; Patel, Manisha L.; Nowotarski, Mesopotamia S.; Rao, Lokeswara; Turiansky, Mark E.; Fisher, Matthew P. A.; Helgeson, Matthew E.
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Santa Barbara; University of California System; University of California Santa Barbara; University of California System; University of California Santa Barbara; University of California System; University of California Santa Barbara
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-9674
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2423211122
• 发表日期: 2025-03-06
• 关键词: hydroxyapatite; magnetoreception; mechanism; clusters; precipitation; nucleation; conversion; brushite; birds

摘要

Differential isotope effects are an emerging tool for discovering possible nontrivial quantum mechanical effects within biological systems. However, it is often nearly impossible to elucidate the exact mechanisms by which a biological isotope effect manifests due to the complexity of these systems. As such, one proposed in vitro system of study for a quantum isotope effect is calcium phosphate aggregation, where symmetric calcium phosphate molecular species, known as Posner molecules, have been theorized to have phosphorus nuclear spin-dependent self-binding rates, which could be differently modulated by doping with stable lithium isotopes. Here, we present in vitro evidence for such a differential lithium isotope effect on the formation and aggregation of amorphous calcium phosphate from solution under certain conditions. Experiments confirm that lithium incorporates into amorphous calcium phosphate, lithium isotope effects. Given the importance of calcium phosphate in biological systems-ranging from mitochondrial signaling pathways to key biomineralization these results present an important step in understanding calcium phosphate nucleation as well as the potential role of calcium phosphate for quantum biology and processing.