Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Electrochemical Detection of Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect on Extracellular Electron Transport in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1
Published on: April 16, 2018
Mixed valent sites in biological electron transfer
Edward I Solomon1, Xiangjin Xie, Abhishek Dey
1Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA. edward.solomon@stanford.edu
Biological electron transfer sites often contain multiple metals and exhibit mixed valency. This review examines metal-site delocalization using spectroscopy, crucial for understanding biological electron transfer mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Bioinorganic Chemistry
- Biophysics
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Many biological electron transfer (ET) active sites feature multiple metal centers.
- These sites can exist in mixed-valent states, where electrons are delocalized.
- Examples include copper-A centers and polynuclear iron-sulfur clusters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the contributions of intra-site delocalization in biological ET.
- To explore the role of mixed-valency in electron transfer processes.
- To provide a tutorial review on assessing delocalization in metalloenzymes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
- Employed magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy.
- Incorporated other relevant spectroscopic techniques to probe electronic structure.
Main Results:
- Quantified the extent of electron delocalization within active sites.
- Demonstrated the spectroscopic signatures of mixed-valent metal centers.
- Correlated delocalization with electron transfer efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Intra-site delocalization plays a significant role in biological electron transfer.
- Spectroscopic methods are powerful tools for characterizing mixed-valent states.
- Understanding delocalization is key to elucidating ET mechanisms in metalloproteins.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Electron Transport Chains
The ETC is comprised of...
Electron Transport Chain Components
Ligand Binding and Linkage
The Supercomplexes in the Crista Membrane

