Abstract
We show here that the temperature dependence of the amide I band of myoglobin shows evidence for a low-lying self-trapped state at 6.15 μm. We have conducted a careful set of picosecond pump-probe experiments providing results as a function of temperature and wavelength and show that this low-lying state has a 30 ps lifetime at 50 K, much longer than the relaxation time of the main amide I band at 50 K. Fits of the temperature dependence of thermal occupation of this state yield the result that it lies 280 K below the main amide I band. Since the gap energy of this state is approximately equal to room temperature, this self-trapped state can act as a transient store of vibrational energy at physiological temperatures in biomolecules and can help to direct the path of energy flow in a biomolecule under biological conditions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | S1693-S1698 |
Journal | Journal of Physics Condensed Matter |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 18 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 14 2003 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics