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Author Spotlight: Investigating the Motion Dynamics of the Eukaryotic Replisome Components at the Single-Molecule Level
Published on: July 26, 2024
Transition from stochastic events to deterministic ensemble average in electron transfer reactions revealed by
Yueqi Li1, Hui Wang2, Zixiao Wang2
1Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-5801.
Abstract:
Electron transfer reactions can now be followed at the single-molecule level, but the connection between the microscopic and macroscopic data remains to be understood. By monitoring the conductance of a single molecule, we show that the individual electron transfer reaction events are stochastic and manifested as large conductance fluctuations. The fluctuation probability follows first-order kinetics with potential dependent rate constants described by the Butler-Volmer relation. Ensemble averaging of many individual reaction events leads to a deterministic dependence of the conductance on the external electrochemical potential that follows the Nernst equation. This study discloses a systematic transition from stochastic kinetics of individual reaction events to deterministic thermodynamics of ensemble averages and provides insights into electron transfer processes of small systems, consisting of a single molecule or a small number of molecules.
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