Enzyme as Maxwell's Demon: Steady-state Deviation from Chemical Equilibrium by Enhanced Enzyme Diffusion

Abstract

Enhanced enzyme diffusion (EED), in which the diffusion coefficient of an enzyme transiently increases during catalysis, has been extensively reported experimentally. We numerically and analytically demonstrate that such enzymes can act as Maxwell's demons. They use their enhanced diffusion as a memory of the previous catalytic reaction, to gain information and drive steady-state chemical concentrations away from chemical equilibrium. Our theoretical analysis identifies the conditions for this process, highlighting the functional role of EED and its relevance to cellular systems.