Redox ligand-binding studies

Among the four redox-active metal sites, the physiological roles of Cua and Feas are quite obvious. The former receives electrons from cytochrome c, while the latter binds O2. However, the role of Cub is stiU essentially unknown. These ligand-binding studies, especially the infrared studies, indicate various interactions or influences of Cub on the bound ligands. 

Studies on the effect of pH on peroxidase catalysis, or the heme-linked ionization, have provided much information on peroxidase catalysis and the active site structure. Heme-linked ionization has been observed in kinetic, electrochemical, absorption spectroscopic, proton balance, and Raman spectroscopic studies. Kinetic studies show that compound I formation is base-catalyzed (72). The pKa values are in the range of 3 to 6. The reactions of compounds I and II with substrates are also pH-dependent with pKa values in a similar range (72). Ligand binding (e.g. CO, O2 or halide ions) to ferrous and ferric peroxidases is also pH-dependent. A wide range of pKa values has been reported (72). The redox potentials of Fe3+/Fe2+ couples for peroxidases measured so far are all affected by pH. The pKa values are between 6 and 8, indicative of an imidazole group of a histidine residue (6, 31-33),... 

Electroanalyhcal techniques (also in combination with other techniques, e.g., ophcal techniques such as photometry and Raman spectrometry) can be employed to inveshgate many functional aspects of proteins and enzymes in particular. It is possible to study the biocatalytic process with respect to the chemistry of the active site, the interfacial and intramolecular ET, slow enzyme achva-tors or inhibitors, the pH dependence, the transport of tlie substrate, and even more parameters. For example, slow scan voltammetry can be used to determine the relation of ET rates or of protonation and ligand binding. In contrast, fast scan voltammetry allows the determination of rates of interfacial ET. In addition, it is also possible to investigate chemical reactions that are coupled to the ET process, such as protonation. The use of direct ET for mechanistic studies of redox enzymes was recently reviewed by Leger and Bertrand [27]. Mathemahcal models help to elucidate the impact of different variables on the enhre current signal [27, 75, 76]. 

This is a rare example of a complex in which a single macrocyclic ligand binds six copper(II) atoms in close proximity. This hexanuclear complex and related species may provide the opportunity for devising and studying previously unobserved types of molecular trapping and of multimetal-promoted processes within the macrocyclic cavity the associated redox chemistry will clearly be rich and interesting [102]. 

Since proteins have several polar or charged side chains, especially on their surface, electrostatics is a simple, yet quite reliable tool to study various processes involving proteins (Baker and McCammon 2009). Electrostatic interactions may play a role in protonation, ligand binding, enzymatic catalysis, redox processes, and electron-proton coupling (e.g., in photosynthesis). 

Studies of ligands which might provide specificity in binding to various oxidation states of plutonium seems a particularly promising area for futher research. If specific ion electrodes could be developed for the other oxidation states, study of redox reactions would be much facilitated. Fast separation schemes which do not change the redox equilibria and function at neutral pH values would be helpful in studies of behavior of tracer levels of plutonium in environmental conditions. A particularly important question in this area is the role of PuOj which has been reported to be the dominant soluble form of plutonium in some studies of natural waters (3,14). 

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