Intramolecular biological electron-transfer

Table I. Some Rates of Intramolecular Biological Electron Transfer...

Although electron transfers in biological systems are generally expected to be non-adiabatic, it is possible for some intramolecular transfers to be close to the adiabatic limit, particularly in proteins where several redox centers are held in a very compact arrangement. This situation is found for example in cytochromes C3 of sulfate-reducing bacteria which contain four hemes in a 13 kDa molecule [10, 11], or in Escherichia coli sulfite reductase where the distance between the siroheme iron and the closest iron of a 4Fe-4S cluster is only 4.4 A [12]. It is interesting to note that a very fast intramolecular transfer rate of about 10 s was inferred from resonance Raman experiments performed in Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki cytochrome Cj [13]. 

In biological systems, electron transfer kinetics are determined by many factors of different physical origin. This is especially true in the case of a bimolecular reaction, since the rate expression then involves the formation constant Kf of the transient bimolecular complex as well as the rate of the intracomplex transfer [4]. The elucidation of the factors that influence the value of Kf in redox reactions between two proteins, or between a protein and organic or inorganic complexes, has been the subject of many experimental studies, and some of them are presented in this volume. The complexation step is essential in ensuring specific recognition between physiological partners. However, it is not considered in the present chapter, which deals with the intramolecular or intracomplex steps which are the direct concern of electron transfer theories. 

Direct evidence for long range electron-transfer in biological systems was first observed by Gray et al.50,51) and Isied et al.481 using [Ru(NH3)5]3+ substituted metallo protein. Histidine-83 of blue copper (azurin) was labeled with Ru(III)(NH3)5 50). Flash photolysis reduction of the His-83 bound Ru(III) followed by electron-transfer from the Ru(II) to Cu2+ was observed with a rate constant of 1.9 s 1. The result shows that intramolecular long distance (approx. 1 nm) electron-transfer from the Ru(II) to the Cu2 + of the azurin takes place rapidly. 

The feasibility of intramolecular electron- and energy-transfer depends on distance and is usually studied in covalently linked systems. However, donor-acceptor dyads can be also arranged by self-assembly what resembles the situation of electron transfer in biological systems. Artificial dyads tethered by a small number of hydrogen bonds immediately dissociate in methanol or water. To improve the binding while keeping the reversibility, a photoinducible electron donor-acceptor dyad linked by a kinetically labile bond was designed. [19]... 

Intramolecular proton transfer in electronically excited transfer in, say, salicylic acid ester and other aromatic compounds leads to deexcitation of the energized electron [43-45]. In photoreduction processes, electron transfer often precedes proton transfer [46] the stability of the protonic bond is at least partially due to an n-a interaction [47]. The strength of the protonic interaction appears to be proportional to the ionization potential of the donor and is sensitive to solvent polarity [48]. These effects have hardly been touched on in biologically important transitions and represent an important new field of research. 

Electron transfer in biological systems can be thought of as a two-step process involving formation of a complex between the donor and acceptor molecule followed by an electron transfer event. The overall electron transfer rate will depend on the rate of complex formation and stability of the complex and on the intrinsic electron transfer rate within the complex. Since the flavin electron transfer systems discussed in this chapter are all stable inter- or intramolecular complexes, the discussion will be limited to considerations of a first order intra-complex electron transfer process. 

Absorption spectra of phenoxyl radicals derived from biologically important molecules were recorded in numerous cases. The tyrosyl radical was studied by many investigators and its spectrum was used to detect tyrosine oxidation in a protein and to follow intramolecular electron transfer from tyrosine to the tryptophan radical in dipeptides and polypeptides . A number of catecholamines, such as adrenaline and dopa, were also studied by kinetic spectrophotometric pulse radiolysis " ". The absorption spectra of most of these substituted o-semiquinone anion were similar to those of the unsubstituted... 

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