The living state and cancer

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Origin of Life Studies
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Living systems exhibit unique reactivity distinguishing them from inanimate matter.
• Proteins, crucial for life's functions, require enhanced reactivity beyond their inherent low chemical activity.
• The concept of a 'living state' suggests a specific physical basis for life's dynamic processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the electronic properties of proteins and their role in biological reactivity.
• To investigate the role of electron acceptors in the origin and evolution of life.
• To elucidate the mechanism of electron transfer in early life forms and its dependence on environmental factors.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis of protein electronic structure and reactivity.
• Examination of early Earth conditions and potential biochemical pathways.
• Investigation of charge transfer mechanisms involving electron acceptors like methylglyoxal and oxygen.

Main Results:

• Protein reactivity is significantly enhanced by removing electrons, forming paramagnetic free radicals.
• Early life likely utilized weak electron acceptors like methylglyoxal in an oxygen-free environment.
• The advent of light and subsequent oxygen generation by photons dramatically increased electron acceptor strength, enabling complex life.

Conclusions:

• The 'living state' is characterized by the controlled electronic desaturation of molecules, particularly proteins.
• Electron transfer processes, facilitated by electron acceptors, are fundamental to life's origins and evolution.
• Ascorbic acid plays a role in the electron transfer mechanism between proteins and oxygen.