In DNA, these are speculated to open a transcription bubble for RNA polymerase, and, in alpha-helix proteins, a variety results from self-trapping of quanta of the amide-I vibration via interaction with soft longitudinal phonons. These Davydov quasiparticles were thought to be responsible for transport of energy from ATP, but W. C. Kerr showed that the original model cannot work at biologically relevant temperatures, while the Kerr effect allows 
In DNA, these are speculated to open a transcription bubble for RNA polymerase, and, in alpha-helix proteins, a variety results from self-trapping of quanta of the amide-I vibration via interaction with soft longitudinal phonons. These Davydov quasiparticles were thought to be responsible for transport of energy from ATP, but W. C. Kerr showed that the original model cannot work at biologically relevant temperatures, while the Kerr effect allows these to appear in optical materials. In the Sine-Gordon equation, these are "kink" and "anti-kink" solutions, and Adam Cohen showed in 2003 how they can describe DNA hairpins in high AC fields. For 10 points, name these nondispersive wave solutions to nonlinear equations, first observed as "waves of translation" in a Scottish canal.
In DNA, these are speculated to open a transcription bubble for RNA polymerase, and, in alpha-helix proteins, a variety results from self-trapping of quanta of the amide-I vibration via interaction with soft longitudinal phonons.
soliton