Intramolecular Electron Transfer Mechanism Research Articles

Molecular mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer in dimeric sulfite oxidase

Sulfite oxidase (SOX) is a homodimeric molybdoheme enzyme that oxidizes sulfite to sulfate at the molybdenum center. Following substrate oxidation, molybdenum is reduced and subsequently regenerated by two sequential electron transfers (ETs) via heme to cytochrome c. SOX harbors both metals in spatially separated domains within each subunit, suggesting that domain movement is necessary to allow intramolecular ET. To address whether one subunit in a SOX dimer is sufficient for catalysis, we produced heterodimeric SOX variants with abolished sulfite oxidation by replacing the molybdenum-coordinating and essential cysteine in the active site. To further elucidate whether electrons can bifurcate between subunits, we truncated one or both subunits by deleting the heme domain. We generated three SOX heterodimers: (i) SOX/Mo with two active molybdenum centers but one deleted heme domain, (ii) SOX/Mo_C264S with one unmodified and one inactive subunit, and (iii) SOX_C264S/Mo harboring a functional molybdenum center on one subunit and a heme domain on the other subunit. Steady-state kinetics showed 50% SOX activity for the SOX/Mo and SOX/Mo_C264S heterodimers, whereas SOX_C264S/Mo activity was reduced by two orders of magnitude. Rapid reaction kinetics monitoring revealed comparable ET rates in SOX/Mo, SOX/Mo_C264S, and SOX/SOX, whereas in SOX_C264S/Mo, ET was strongly compromised. We also combined a functional SOX Mo domain with an inactive full-length SOX R217W variant and demonstrated interdimer ET that resembled SOX_C264S/Mo activity. Collectively, our results indicate that one functional subunit in SOX is sufficient for catalysis and that electrons derived from either Mo(IV) or Mo(V) follow this path.

UV/FeⅡNTA as a novel photoreductive system for the degradation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) via a photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer mechanism

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant that is toxic and bio-accumulative. Previously, we used hydrated electrons (eaq–) generated by the UV photolysis of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) to initiate the photoreductive decomposition of PFOS. However, due to the protonation of NTA and the scavenging effect of H+ on eaq–, this process relies highly on alkaline conditions. Herein, we report on an enhanced UV photoreductive system based on FeⅡNTA, which results in the decomposition of PFOS at pH 8.0 under anoxic conditions. After 10 h of photolysis, the degradation and defluorination efficiencies of PFOS in the UV/FeⅡNTA system were ~ 60% and 29.5%, respectively, with a pseudo first-order degradation rate constant of kobs = 0.081 h−1. Laser flash photolysis results combined with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations indicate that PFOS, Fe(H2O)62+, and NTA form a penta-coordinated metal–ligand complex that undergoes a UV-induced directional electron transfer from FeⅡNTA to PFOS. PFOS decomposes via a mechanism that proceeds through a concerted photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer instead of direct attack by eaq–. Model chelate studies show that the inherent properties of the transition metal ion and the electron-donating capabilities of the complexing ligands determine the efficiency for photoreductive electron transfer. A low apparent activation energy of 4.74 kJ/mol over a broad pH range results in higher electron transfer efficiencies for UV/FeⅡNTA photolysis compared to photolysis initiated by un-complexed NTA.

Electrochemically induced electron transfer through molecular bridges

In this Opinion, we address some of the most important results obtained electrochemically in the area of intramolecular electron transfer (ET). The focus is on freely diffusing molecular systems in which a donor D and an acceptor A are separated by a well-defined bridge B (D-B-A systems). B can be a saturated spacer, a delocalized bridge, or the more complex peptide backbones. As to the acceptors, the selected examples encompass species that can be charged reversibly but a special emphasis is on ETs associated with the concerted cleavage of a sigma bond (dissociative ETs). Our goal is to showcase the essential background, the most appropriate electrochemical tools and methodologies, and a series of selected examples where molecular electrochemistry has provided invaluable information on the mechanisms of intramolecular ET and electronic communication through bridges.

Octaheme nitrite reductase: The mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer and kinetics of nitrite bioelectroreduction

Detailed impedance and voltammetric studies of hexameric octaheme nitrite reductase immobilized on carbon-based nanomaterials, specifically nanotubes and nanoparticles, were performed. Well-pronounced bioelectrocatalytic reduction of nitrite on enzyme-modified electrodes was obtained. Analysis of the impedance data indicated the absence of long-lived intermediates involved in the nitrite reduction. Cyclic voltammograms of biomodified electrodes had a bi-sigmoidal shape, which pointed to the presence of two enzyme orientations on carbon supports. The maximum (limiting) catalytic currents were determined and, by applying the correction by the mixed kinetics equation, the Tafel dependences were plotted for each catalytic wave/each enzyme orientation. Finally, two schemes for the rate-limiting processes during bioelectrocatalysis were proposed, viz. for low- and high-potential orientations.

Influence of strong electron donating nature of phenothiazine on A3B- type porphyrin based dye sensitized solar cells

Structural modifications of porphyrin sensitizers have shown significant impact on incident photon to current generation whilst applied into dye sensitized solar cells. Nevertheless, various positional alterations of donor/acceptors attached porphyrin dyes reported until now in which A3B based sensitizers received much attention in DSSCs. Herein, we reported A3B type hexyl-phenothiazine appended porphyrins (G10 and G11) utilized as sensitizer with liquid redox electrolyte results the efficiency of 5.4% which is highest performance amongst A3B type sensitizers reported. Optical and electrochemical properties of G10 and G11 suggested that photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer mechanism occurred from donor hexyl-phenothiazine to acceptor acetic acid via porphyrin macrocycle. Density functional theory calculations revealed that lowest occupied molecular orbital of dyes close to the conduction band of TiO2 facilitates efficient electron injection from dye to nanoparticles. Incident photon to electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra and J-V curve of dyesdepict broad band from 350 to 750 nm in the range of >50–55% as a result power conversion efficiency (η) of 5.11–5.40%. Therefore, design of diverse molecular structures pave the way for improved efficiency and durability of photovoltaic devices.

Electron Transfer and Geometric Conversion of Co-NO Moiety in Saddled Porphyrins: Implications for Trigger Role of Tetrapyrrole Distortion.

The electrons of NO and Co are strongly delocalized in normal {Co-NO}8 species. In this work, {Co-NO}8 complexes are induced to convert from (CoII)+•-NO• to CoIII-NO- by a core contraction of 0.06 Å in saddled cobalt(II) porphyrins. This intramolecular electron transfer mechanism indicates that nonplanarity of porphyrin is involved in driving conversion of the NO units from electrophilic NO• as a bent geometry to nucleophilic NO- as a linear geometry. This implies that distortion acts as a trigger in enzymes containing tetrapyrrole. The electronic behaviors of the CoII ions and Co-NO moieties were confirmed by X-ray crystallography, EPR spectroscopy, theoretical calculation, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy, and electrochemistry.

Quantum chemical modeling of valence tautomeric adducts of CoII bischelates with pyrene-4,5-diimines

Quantum chemical study of mixed-ligand (1: 1) adducts of tetracoordinated cobalt complexes (diketonates, bis-aminovinylketonates, and bis-salicylaldiminates) with pyrene-4,5-diimines using density functional theory (DFT B3LYP*/6-311++G(d,p)) revealed compounds possessing valence tautomeric properties. The mechanisms of intramolecular electron transfer accompanied by changing magnetic properties of the complexes under consideration were studied. It was shown that the variation of substituents at the nitrogen atoms of the diimine ligand and the donor groups in the cobalt bischelate, as well as the annulation of five- and six-membered rings to the azomethine fragment exerts a considerable influence on the stability of the formed adducts and the energy difference between their low- and high-spin isomers.

Electrochemically Controlled Multistability of Ultrathin Films of Double-Decker Lanthanides Phthalocyanines

Molecular-scale systems that exhibit intramolecular electron transfer (IET) induced by various external stimuli occupy a special place among the systems whose behaviour is determined by charge transfer processes. Such redox-isomeric materials are indeed promising for applications in the development of nanoscale information storage devices. Complexes in which both metal and ligand are redox-active are target objects for the study of redox isomerism phenomenon (reversible intramolecular metal−ligand electron transfer). From this standpoint, tetrapyrrole complexes of metals with variable oxidation states are one of the most promising compounds. Lanthanides phthalocyaninates proved to be very promising objects for the development of “molecular switches” and memory devices. Herein, we report on the electrochemical properties of Langmuir-Blodgett films of series of lanthanides complexes with bis-tetra-15-crown-5-phthalocyanines1,2. A previously unknown phenomenon of orientation-induced redox isomerism in a Langmuir monolayer is revealed in the case of cerium bis-[tetra-(15-crown-5)-phthalocyaninate] – (Ce[(15C5)4Pc]2)3,4 (Fig.1). The mechanism of genuine redox isomerism was confirmed by the results of in-situUV-Vis spectral measurements performed on monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films, AFM, and XPS studies of Langmuir-Blodgett films transferred at different surface pressures. The understanding of this reversible IET mechanism is especially important due to possible applications of such redox-isomeric systems in the development of nanoscale multibit information storage devices. 1. Selector, S. L.; Arslanov, V. V.; Gorbunova, Y. G.; Raitman, O. A.; Sheinina, L. S.; Birin, K. P.; Tsivadze, A. Y. Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines 2008, 12, 1154. 2. Selector, S. L.; Shokurov, A. V; Arslanov, V. V; Gorbunova, Y. G.; Raitman, O. A.; Isakova, A. A.; Birin, K. P.; Tsivadze, A. Y. Rus. J. of Electrochemistry 2012, 48, 218. 3. Selektor, S. L.; Shokurov, A. V.; Raitman, O. A.; Sheinina, L. S.; Arslanov, V. V.; Birin, K. P.; Gorbunova, Y. G.; Tsivadze, A. Y. Colloid J. 2012, 74, 334. 4. Selektor, S.L.; Shokurov, A.V.; Arslanov, V.V.; Gorbunova, Y.G.; Birin, K.P.; Raitman, O.A.; Morote, F.; Cohen-Bouhacina, T.; Grauby-Heywang, Ch.; Tsivadze, A.Yu. J. Phys. Chem. C ., 2014, 118, 4250. Figure 1

Valence tautomeric dinuclear adducts of Co(II) diketonates with redox-active diquinones for the design of spin qubits: computational modeling.

The possibility of employing the mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer between metal and ligand centers in the valence tautomeric complexes formed as electrically neutral 2 : 1 adducts of Co(II) diketonates and redox-active tetradentate di-o-quinones, for quantum information processing, has been computationally studied using the DFT B3LYP*/6-311++G(d,p) method. It has been shown that by the proper choice of a linker group bridging the quinone rings and substituents in the diketonate fragments, complexes with the properties required in 2-qubit quantum gates (sufficiently narrow energy gaps between the spin states and weakly coupled paramagnetic centers) can be designed, in order to realize the mechanism of thermally driven migration of paramagnetic centers between the o-quinone fragments and metal atoms. These are exemplified by the adduct of bis-(hexafluoroacetylacetonate)Co(ii) with a diquinone containing dimethylene linker. Valence tautomerism is considered as a new, promising mechanistic paradigm for the molecular design of 2-qubit molecular systems.

Visible-light activation of the bimetallic chromophore-catalyst dyad: analysis of transient intermediates and reactivity toward organic sulfides.

In order to develop a new photocatalytic system, we designed a new redox-active module (5) to hold both a photosensitizer part, [Ru(II)(terpy)(bpy)X](n+) (where terpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine and bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), and a popular Jacobsen catalytic part, salen-Mn(III), covalently linked through a pyridine-based electron-relay moiety. On the basis of nanosecond laser flash photolysis studies, an intramolecular electron transfer mechanism from salen-Mn(III) to photooxidized Ru(III) chromophore yielding the catalytically active high-valent salen-Mn(IV) species was proposed. To examine the reactivity of such photogenerated salen-Mn(IV), we employed organic sulfide as substrate. Detection of the formation of a Mn(III)-phenoxyl radical and a sulfur radical cation during the course of reaction using time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy confirms the electron transfer nature of the reaction. This is the first report for the electron transfer reaction of organic sulfide with the photochemically generated salen-Mn(IV) catalytic center.

Orientation-Induced Redox Isomerism in Planar Supramolecular Systems

In this work, a previously undescribed phenomenon of orientation-induced redox isomerism in a Langmuir monolayer is revealed in the case of cerium bis-[tetra-(15-crown-5)-phthalocyaninate]-(Ce[(15C5)4Pc]2). It was established that intramolecular electron transfer (IET) from the electronic system of phthalocyanine to the 4f-orbital of cerium atom occurs upon spreading of a (Ce[(15C5)4Pc]2) chloroform solution onto the air–water interface (3D → 2D IET). This process is related to the transformation of Ce4+ cation in the solution to Ce3+ in the monolayer. It was also found that reversible Ce3+ ↔ Ce4+ IETs occur upon compression (π1 → π2) and expansion (π2 → π1) of monolayer (2Dπ1 ↔ 2Dπ2 IET, π-surface pressure). The mechanism of genuine redox isomerism was confirmed by the results of in situ UV–vis spectral measurements performed on monolayers and Langmuir–Blodgett films, AFM, and XPS studies of Langmuir–Blodgett films transferred at different surface pressures. The understanding of this reversible IET mechanism is especially important due to possible applications of such redox-isomeric systems in the development of nanoscale multibit information storage devices.

ChemInform Abstract: The Influence of Secondary Structure on Electron Transfer in Peptides

AbstractReview: 22 refs.

The Influence of Secondary Structure on Electron Transfer in Peptides

A series of synthetic peptides containing 0–5 α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) residues and a C-terminal redox-active ferrocene was synthesised and their conformations defined by NMR and circular dichroism. Each peptide was separately attached to an electrode for subsequent electrochemical analysis in order to investigate the effect of peptide chain length (distance dependence) and secondary structure on the mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer. While the shorter peptides (0–2 residues) do not adopt a well defined secondary structure, the longer peptides (3–5 residues) adopt a helical conformation, with associated intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The electrochemical results on these peptides clearly revealed a transition in the mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer on transitioning from the ill-defined shorter peptides to the longer helical peptides. The helical structures undergo electron transfer via a hopping mechanism, while the shorter ill-defined structures proceeded via an electron superexchange mechanism. Computational studies on two β-peptides PCB-(β3Val-β3Ala-β3Leu)n–NHC(CH3)2OOtBu (n = 1 and 2; PCB = p-cyanobenzamide) were consistent with these observations, where the n = 2 peptide adopts a helical conformation and the n = 1 peptide an ill-defined structure. These combined studies suggest that the mechanism of electron transfer is defined by the extent of secondary structure, rather than merely chain length as is commonly accepted.

A polyoxometalate-based PdII-coordinated ionic solid catalyst for heterogeneous aerobic oxidation of benzene to biphenyl

An ionic solid catalyst by pairing Keggin polyoxometalate-anions with Pd(II)-coordinated nitrile-tethered ionic liquid cations was synthesized, characterized, and tested for aerobic oxidation of benzene to biphenyl. A unique heterogeneous intramolecular electron transfer mechanism is proposed to understand its high activity.

Mechanism of Intramolecular Electron Transfer in the Photoexcited Zn-Substituted Cytochrome c: Theoretical and Experimental Perspective

Mechanism of Intramolecular Electron Transfer in the Photoexcited Zn-Substituted Cytochrome <i>c</i>: Theoretical and Experimental Perspective

Direct electron transfer reactions between human ceruloplasmin and electrodes

In an effort to find conditions favouring bioelectrocatalytic reduction of oxygen by surface-immobilised human ceruloplasmin (Cp), direct electron transfer (DET) reactions between Cp and an extended range of surfaces were considered. Exploiting advances in surface nanotechnology, bare and carbon-nanotube-modified spectrographic graphite electrodes as well as bare, thiol- and gold-nanoparticle-modified gold electrodes were considered, and ellipsometry provided clues as to the amount and form of adsorbed Cp. DET was studied under different conditions by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Two Faradaic processes with midpoint potentials of about 400 mV and 700 mV vs. NHE, corresponding to the redox transformation of copper sites of Cp, were clearly observed. In spite of the significant amount of Cp adsorbed on the electrode surfaces, as well as the quite fast DET reactions between the redox enzyme and electrodes, bioelectrocatalytic reduction of oxygen by immobilised Cp was never registered. The bioelectrocatalytic inertness of this complex multi-functional redox enzyme interacting with a variety of surfaces might be associated with a very complex mechanism of intramolecular electron transfer involving a kinetic trapping behaviour.

The effect of neighboring methionine residue on tyrosine nitration and oxidation in peptides treated with MPO, H 2O 2, and NO 2− or peroxynitrite and bicarbonate: Role of intramolecular electron transfer mechanism?

Recent reports suggest that intramolecular electron transfer reactions can profoundly affect the site and specificity of tyrosyl nitration and oxidation in peptides and proteins. Here we investigated the effects of methionine on tyrosyl nitration and oxidation induced by myeloperoxidase (MPO), H 2O 2 and NO 2 − and peroxynitrite (ONOO −) or ONOO − and bicarbonate (HCO 3 −) in model peptides, tyrosylmethionine (YM), tyrosylphenylalanine (YF) and tyrosine. Nitration and oxidation products of these peptides were analyzed by HPLC with UV/Vis and fluorescence detection, and mass spectrometry; radical intermediates were identified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-spin-trapping. We have previously shown (Zhang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 280 (2005) 40684–40698) that oxidation and nitration of tyrosyl residue was inhibited in tyrosylcysteine(YC)-type peptides as compared to free tyrosine. Here we show that methionine, another sulfur-containing amino acid, does not inhibit nitration and oxidation of a neighboring tyrosine residue in the presence of ONOO − (or ONOOCO 2 −) or MPO/H 2O 2/NO 2 − system. Nitration of tyrosyl residue in YM was actually stimulated under the conditions of in situ generation of ONOO − (formed by reaction of superoxide with nitric oxide during SIN-1 decomposition), as compared to YF, YC and tyrosine. The dramatic variations in tyrosyl nitration profiles caused by methionine and cysteine residues have been attributed to differences in the direction of intramolecular electron transfer in these peptides. Further support for the interpretation was obtained by steady-state radiolysis and photolysis experiments. Potential implications of the intramolecular electron transfer mechanism in mediating selective nitration of protein tyrosyl groups are discussed.

Intra-Molecular Electron Transfer in Proteins

Intra-molecular electron transfer is a key process, which is of prime importance, in photosynthesis, mitochondrial electron transfer and the action of many multi-centre enzymes. This mini-review considers the possible mechanisms of intra-molecular electron transfer in proteins and reviews the recent developments relating to possible electron tunnelling and electron hopping processes within di-heme cytochrome c peroxidase.

The Mechanism of Assembly and Cofactor Insertion into Rhodobacter capsulatus Xanthine Dehydrogenase

Rhodobacter capsulatus xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) is a molybdo-flavoprotein that is highly homologous to the homodimeric mammalian xanthine oxidoreductase. However, the bacterial enzyme has an (alphabeta)(2) heterotetrameric structure, and the cofactors were identified to be located on two different polypeptides. We have analyzed the mechanism of cofactor insertion and subunit assembly of R. capsulatus XDH, using engineered subunits with appropriate substitutions in the interfaces. In an (alphabeta) heterodimeric XDH containing the XdhA and XdhB subunits, the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) was shown to be absent, indicating that dimerization of the (alphabeta) subunits has to precede Moco insertion. In an (alphabeta)(2) XDH heterotetramer variant, including only one active Moco-center, the active (alphabeta) site of the chimeric enzyme was shown to be fully active, revealing that the two subunits act independent without cooperativity. Amino acid substitutions at two cysteine residues coordinating FeSI of the two [2Fe-2S] clusters of the enzyme demonstrate that an incomplete assembly of FeSI impairs the formation of the XDH (alphabeta)(2) heterotetramer and, thus, insertion of Moco into the enzyme. The results reveal that the insertion of the different redox centers into R. capsulatus XDH takes place sequentially. Dimerization of two (alphabeta) dimers is necessary for insertion of sulfurated Moco into apo-XDH, the last step of XDH maturation.

Mechanism of Intramolecular Electron Transfer in the Photoexcited Zn-Substituted Cytochrome c: Theoretical and Experimental Perspective

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) in zinc-substituted cytochrome c (Zn-cyt c) has been utilized in many studies on the long-range ET in protein. Attempting to understand its ET mechanism in terms of electronic structure of the molecule, we have calculated an all-electron wave function for the ground-state of Zn-cyt c on the basis of density functional theory (DFT). The four molecular orbitals (MOs) responsible for excitation by UV-vis light (Gouterman's 4-orbitals) are assigned on the basis of the excited states of chromophore model for Zn-porphine complex calculated with the time-dependent DFT method. ET rates between each Gouterman's 4-orbitals and other MOs were estimated using Fermi's golden rule. It appeared that the two occupied MOs of the 4-orbitals show exclusively higher ET rate from/to particular MOs that localize on outermost amino acid residues (Lys 7 or Asn 54), respectively, whereas ET rates involving the two unoccupied MOs of the 4-orbitals are much slower. These results imply that the intramolecular ET in photoexcited Zn-cyt c is governed by the hole transfer through occupied MOs. The couplings of MOs between zinc porphyrin core and specific amino acid residues on the protein surface have been demonstrated in Zn-cyt c immobilized on an Au electrode via carboxylic acid group-terminated self-assembled monolayer. The Zn-cyt c-modified electrode showed photocurrents responsible for photoillumination. The action spectrum of the photocurrent was identical with the absorption spectrum of Zn-cyt c, indicating photoinduced electron conduction via occupied MOs. The voltage dependence of the photocurrent appeared to be linear and bidirectional like a photoconductor, which strongly supports the intramolecular ET mechanism in Zn-cyt c proposed on the basis of the theoretical calculations.