Work

Speed Limits on Biomolecular Processes from Fundamental Physical Constants

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Many of the time scales of life have speed limits set by quantum-mechanical constraints along with nonfundamental quantities, such as the temperature of the environment, which are however bounded by anthropic considerations. Here, some of such speed limits are examined, including those for the rates of elementary chemical reactions and biomolecular folding. Limitations of simple back-of-envelope estimates are also discussed.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry B

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6c04792

Author: Dmitrii E. Makarov

Institution: The University of Texas at Austin

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, Division of Chemistry

Award: G7531111905