Chirality-induced spin polarization places symmetry constraints on biomolecular interactions.

ABSTRACT: Noncovalent interactions between molecules are key for many biological processes. Necessarily, when molecules interact, the electronic charge in each of them is redistributed. Here, we show experimentally that, in chiral molecules, charge redistribution is accompanied by spin polarization. We describe how this spin polarization adds an enantioselective term to the forces, so that homochiral interaction energies differ from heterochiral ones. The spin polarization was measured by using a modified Hall effect device. An electric field that is applied along the molecules causes charge redistribution, and for chiral molecules, a Hall voltage is measured that indicates the spin polarization. Based on this observation, we conjecture that the spin polarization enforces symmetry constraints on the

SUBMITTER: Kumar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5347616 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature