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Electrical circuitry in biology: emerging principles from protein structure
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|December 8, 2004
Summary
Electron transfer via tunneling is efficient up to 14Å. For longer distances, systems use mobile carriers, redox arrays, or domain motion for robust redox system design.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Electron transfer is crucial in biological systems.
- Tunneling is a primary mechanism for electron transfer over short distances.
- Understanding electron transfer mechanisms is key for designing artificial redox systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the distance limitations of electron tunneling.
- To identify mechanisms facilitating long-distance electron transfer.
- To provide insights for designing efficient redox systems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of electron transfer kinetics.
- Review of existing literature on interprotein electron transfer.
- Theoretical modeling of electron tunneling.
Main Results:
- Electron tunneling is effective up to 14Å.
- Long-distance electron transfer utilizes diffusible carriers, redox arrays, or domain motion.
- These mechanisms are employed in interprotein electron transfer.
Conclusions:
- Diffusible carriers can be combined with other mechanisms.
- Arrays of redox centers enhance productive collisions.
- Domain motion optimizes electron transfer probability through conformational sampling.