Iron redox reactions self exchange

The NO/NO+ and NO/NO- self-exchange rates are quite slow (42). Therefore, the kinetics of nitric oxide electron transfer reactions are strongly affected by transition metal complexes, particularly by those that are labile and redox active which can serve to promote these reactions. Although iron is the most important metal target for nitric oxide in mammalian biology, other metal centers might also react with NO. For example, both cobalt (in the form of cobalamin) (43,44) and copper (in the form of different types of copper proteins) (45) have been identified as potential NO targets. In addition, a substantial fraction of the bacterial nitrite reductases (which catalyze reduction of NO2 to NO) are copper enzymes (46). The interactions of NO with such metal centers continue to be rich for further exploration. 

A values have been obtained for oxidation of benzenediols by [Fe(bipy)(CN)4], including the effect of pH, i.e., of protonation of the iron(III) complex, and the kinetics of [Fe(phen)(CN)4] oxidation of catechol and of 4-butylcatechol reported. Redox potentials of [Fe(bipy)2(CFQ7] and of [Fe(bipy)(CN)4] are available. The self-exchange rate constant for [Fe(phen)2(CN)2] has been estimated from kinetic data for electron transfer reactions involving, inter alios, catechol and hydroquinone as 2.8 2.5 x 10 dm moF s (in dimethyl sulfoxide). 

Early reports on interactions between redox enzymes and ruthenium or osmium compounds prior to the biosensor burst are hidden in a bulk of chemical and biochemical literature. This does not apply to the ruthenium biochemistry of cytochromes where complexes [Ru(NH3)5L] " , [Ru(bpy)2L2], and structurally related ruthenium compounds, which have been widely used in studies of intramolecular (long-range) electron transfer in proteins (124,156-158) and biomimetic models for the photosynthetic reaction centers (159). Applications of these compounds in biosensors are rather limited. The complex [Ru(NHg)6] has the correct redox potential but its reactivity toward oxidoreductases is low reflecting a low self-exchange rate constant (see Tables I and VII). The redox potentials of complexes [Ru(bpy)3] " and [Ru(phen)3] are way too much anodic (1.25 V vs. NHE) ruling out applications in MET. The complex [Ru(bpy)3] is such a powerful oxidant that it oxidizes HRP into Compounds II and I (160). The electron-transfer from the resting state of HRP at pH <10 when the hemin iron(III) is five-coordinate generates a 7i-cation radical intermediate with the rate constant 2.5 x 10 s" (pH 10.3)... 

An advantage of dynamic techniques such as cyclic voltammetry is that potentials of unstable states can be more readily evaluated. They are most applicable to proteins whose function is to transfer electrons (cytochromes, ferredoxins, etc.) rather than catalyze redox reactions. Flavo-proteins and dinuclear iron proteins are in this category they have the equivalent of very low self-exchange rates, meaning that they cannot readily transfer electrons to each other, and they also do not interact well with electrodes. This is because their active sites are only accessible to small molecules. Accessibility to active sites of enzymes is also a topic that has been addressed by Willner in Chapter 17 in this volume. In our flavoprotein and dinuclear iron cluster work, we will consider only those proteins that have the dual function of transferring electrons and selectively catalyzing reactions. 

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