Chemical Imbalance through Enhanced Enzyme Diffusion: Maxwell's Demon Analogy

Shunsuke Ichii, Biocomplexity Group, Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen

In recent years, a phenomenon known as enhanced enzyme diffusion (EED), in which the diffusion rate of enzymes increases as a result of enzymatic reactions, has been reported. Using particle simulations that incorporate this microscopic effect, we discovered that EED can alter macroscopic concentrations in the equilibrium state. Furthermore, theoretical model analyses revealed that this effect allows enzymes to act as Maxwell's demons, carrying information about the type of particles they interact with and using that information to shift the balance of reactions. Additionally, we demonstrated that the conditions under which this effect operates can be derived from the relationship between the reaction rate constants, the dissipation rate of enzyme motility, and the system's viscosity coefficient. These findings suggest that the spatial effects of EED can influence macroscopic concentrations, potentially challenging the conventional assumptions about enzyme behavior. Specifically, we revealed the possibility that enzymatic reactions, previously thought only to accelerate reactions without altering equilibrium distributions, can have macroscopic effects on the balance of those distributions.