Hemoglycin as a Candidate for Permanent Memory

Abstract

The Hemoglycin polymer of glycine derived from space is terminated by iron and silicon to form a three-dimensional regular lattice with a high density of silicon tetrahedral vertices. Divalent cation bridges bypass vertices to facilitate electron conduction axially from layer to layer of the lattice. In principle, the exact distribution of Mg or Ca ions around each vertex can encode a very large amount of information. In space where the polymer forms in a molecular cloud the current derived from photon input will fade but in-fall hemoglycin in life forms on habitable planets like Earth, could be contained behind lipid electronic barriers of the nervous system in neurons or glia. Energy minimization of the permutations for magnesium or calcium occupancy showed deeper binding for calcium-dominated configurations. A low energy state with two independent magnesium to calcium substitutions appears to be key to the maintenance of long-term chemical modification. This state could be read via a pulse train that induced the matching spatial distribution of calcium to render adjacent insulating lattice regions conductive and provide a completed conduction path, signaling recognition. Writing of information may involve spatial modulation of the Na/Ca exchanger within the lipid membrane.