Potential Electron Transfer Research Articles

Influence of Fe ions in characteristics and optical properties of mesoporous titanium oxide thin films

Fe-doped mesoporous titanium dioxide (M-TiO 2-Fe) thin films have been prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates by sol–gel and spin coating methods. All films exhibited mesoporous structure with the pore size around 5–9 nm characterized by small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) and further confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Raman spectra illustrated that lower Fe-doping contributed to the formation of nanocrystalline of M-TiO 2-Fe thin films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data indicated that the doped Fe ions exist in forms of Fe 3+, which can play a role as e − or h + traps and reduce e −/h + pair recombination rate. Optical properties including refractive indices/ n, energy gaps/ E g and Urbach energy width/ E 0 of the thin films were estimated and investigated by UV/vis transmittance spectra. The presence of Fe content extended the light absorption band and decreased the values of n, implying enhanced light response and performance on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The optimum Fe content in M-TiO 2-Fe thin films is determined as 10 mol%, for its compatibility of well crystalline and well potential electron transfer performance.

Effect of subunit IV on superoxide generation by Rhodobacter sphaeroides cytochrome bc1 complex

Previous studies indicate that the three-subunit cytochrome bc1 core complex of Rhodobacter sphaeroides contains a fraction of the electron transfer activity of the wild-type enzyme. Addition of subunit IV to the core complex increases electron transfer activity to the same level as that of the wild-type complex. This activity increase may result from subunit IV preventing electron leakage, from the low potential electron transfer chain, and reaction with molecular oxygen, producing superoxide anion. This suggestion is based on the following observations: (1) the extent of cytochrome b reduction in the three-subunit core complex, by ubiquinol, in the presence of antimycin A, never reaches the same level as that in the wild-type complex; (2) the core complex produces 4 times as much superoxide anion as does the wild-type complex; and (3) when the core complex is reconstituted with subunit IVs having varying reconstitutive activities, the activity increase in reconstituted complexes correlates with superoxide production decrease and extent of cytochrome b reduction increase.

ATP-driven Reduction by Dark-operative Protochlorophyllide Oxidoreductase from Chlorobium tepidum Mechanistically Resembles Nitrogenase Catalysis

During chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis in gymnosperms, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, dark-operative protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (DPOR) reduces ring D of aromatic protochlorophyllide stereospecifically to produce chlorophyllide. We describe the heterologous overproduction of DPOR subunits BchN, BchB, and BchL from Chlorobium tepidum in Escherichia coli allowing their purification to apparent homogeneity. The catalytic activity was found to be 3.15 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) with K(m) values of 6.1 microm for protochlorophyllide, 13.5 microm for ATP, and 52.7 microm for the reductant dithionite. To identify residues important in DPOR function, 21 enzyme variants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis and investigated for their metal content, spectroscopic features, and catalytic activity. Two cysteine residues (Cys(97) and Cys(131)) of homodimeric BchL(2) are found to coordinate an intersubunit [4Fe-4S] cluster, essential for low potential electron transfer to (BchNB)(2) as part of the reduction of the protochlorophyllide substrate. Similarly, Lys(10) and Leu(126) are crucial to ATP-driven electron transfer from BchL(2). The activation energy of DPOR electron transfer is 22.2 kJ mol(-1) indicating a requirement for 4 ATP per catalytic cycle. At the amino acid level, BchL is 33% identical to the nitrogenase subunit NifH allowing a first tentative structural model to be proposed. In (BchNB)(2), we find that four cysteine residues, three from BchN (Cys(21), Cys(46), and Cys(103)) and one from BchB (Cys(94)), coordinate a second inter-subunit [4Fe-4S] cluster required for catalysis. No evidence for any type of molybdenum-containing cofactor was found, indicating that the DPOR subunit BchN clearly differs from the homologous nitrogenase subunit NifD. Based on the available data we propose an enzymatic mechanism of DPOR.

Direct Electron Transfer Reactivity of Glucose Oxidase on Electrodes Modified With Zirconium Dioxide Nanoparticles

The direct electron transfer between electrodes and glucose oxidase (GOD) immobilized in a matrix containing zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> ) is described. The protein-nanoparticle assembly is stabilized by charged and uncharged compounds and the direct electron transfer is enhanced. The effects of different compositions on the electrochemical parameters, formal potential, surface loading, and constant heterogeneous electron transfer rate are characterized with cyclic voltammetry. The fastest electron transfer rate with the smallest deviation of the is obtained when GOD is immobilized with ZrO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> nanoparticles, colloidal platinum and poly-Lysine (PLL). Incorporation of charged compounds for immobilization of GOD causes a larger positive shift of the formal potential. Electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements show that the GOD entrapped in ZrO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> /Pt-PLL or ZrO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> /Pt-PVA film retains its bioactivity efficiently and exhibits excellent electrocatalytic behavior towards glucose. No enzymatic activity of the immobilized GOD can be observed on ZrO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> /DMSO and ZrO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> /DDAB film.

Long-range electron and charge transfers in peptide bridging phthalimide and methyl aminoacetate radical systems: Super-exchange and hopping mechanisms

Diabatic potential energy profiles and ET mechanisms for pa - - ( gly ) n = 3 -aa → pa- ( gly ) n = 3 - aa - and pa- ( gly ) n = 3 - aa - → pa - - ( gly ) n = 3 -aa where the (gly) n =3 in β-strand conformation. Curves P (or p ′), B, B1, B2, B3 and S refer to the pa − -(gly) n =3 -aa, pa- ( gly ) n = 3 - -aa , pa-(gly) − -(gly) n =2 -aa, pa-(gly)-(gly) − -(gly)-aa, pa-(gly) n =2 -(gly) − -aa and pa-(gly) n =3 -aa − states, respectively. Super-exchange and hopping mechanisms and distance dependence of long-range electron transfer (ET) and charge transfer (CT) in pa-(gly) n =0–6 -aa (pa = C 6 H 4 (CO) 2 N-(CH 2 CO), gly = glycine, aa = HNCH 2 COOCH 3 ) ionic molecules have been explored by computational studies of ET matrix element V PS , ET rate constant k ET and reorganization energies using two-state variational method (TSVM) and classical and semi-classical rate models. For comparison electron correlation effects are examined in the calculations. Calculated distance dependences of k ET are in good agreement with the experimental predictions. These results are then used to elucidate ET and CT reaction mechanisms.

Novel genes for nitrite reductase and Amo‐related proteins indicate a role of uncultivated mesophilic crenarchaeota in nitrogen cycling

Mesophilic crenarchaeota are frequently found in terrestrial and marine habitats worldwide, but despite their considerable abundance the physiology of these as yet uncultivated archaea has remained unknown. From a 1.2 Gb large-insert environmental fosmid library of a calcareous grassland soil, a 43 kb genomic fragment was isolated with a ribosomal RNA that shows its affiliation to group 1.1b of crenarchaeota repeatedly found in soils. The insert encoded a homologue of a copper-containing nitrite reductase with an unusual C-terminus that encoded a potential amicyanin-like electron transfer domain as well as two proteins related to subunits of ammonia monooxygenases or particulate methane monooxygenases (AmoAB/PmoAB) respectively. Expression of nirK and the amoA-like gene was shown by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses in soil samples, the latter being found at higher levels when the soil was incubated with ammonia (measured by quantitative PCR). Further variants of both genes were amplified from soil samples and were found in the environmental database from the Sargasso Sea plankton. Taken together, our findings suggest that mesophilic terrestrial and marine crenarchaeota might be capable of ammonia oxidation under aerobic and potentially also under anaerobic conditions.

Direct electron transfer reactions of laccases from different origins on carbon electrodes

Electrochemical studies of laccases from basidiomycetes, i.e., Trametes hirsuta, Trametes ochracea, Coriolopsis fulvocinerea, Cerrena maxima, and Cerrena unicolor, have been performed. Direct (mediatorless) electrochemistry of laccases on graphite electrodes has been investigated with cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry as well as potentiometry. For all mentioned high potential laccases direct electron transfer (DET) has been registered at spectrographic graphite and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite electrodes. The characteristics of DET reactions of the enzymes were analysed under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. It is shown that the T1 site of the laccase is the primary electron acceptor, both in solution (homogenous case) and at surface of the graphite electrode (heterogeneous case). A mechanism of ET for the process of the electroreduction of oxygen at the laccase-modified graphite electrodes is proposed and the similarity of this heterogeneous process to the laccase catalysed oxygen reduction homogeneous reaction is concluded.

One-electron redox reaction of di- tert-butyl nitroxide at platinum electrode in acetonitrile

The electrochemical oxidation of di- tert-butyl nitroxide (DTBN) at a platinum electrode in acetonitrile was examined. The cyclic voltammogram indicated an irreversible response during a normal time scale measurement, whereas chemically reversible voltammograms were obtained during a shorter time using a micro disk electrode with relatively fast sweep rates. The apparent formal redox potential and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant were estimated to be 0.218 V (versus Fc +|Fc) and 0.035 ± 0.015 cm s −1 from the digital simulation analysis.

Electrochemistry of chlorogenic acid: experimental and theoretical studies

Cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry as well as quantum chemical methods, are used for electrochemical study of chlorogenic acid, as an important biological molecule. The standard formal potential, diffusion coefficient, and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant of chlorogenic acid in aqueous solution are investigated. Acidic dissociation constant of chlorogenic acid is also obtained. Quantum mechanical calculations on oxidation of chlorogenic acid in aqueous solution, using density functional theory are presented. The change of Gibbs free energy and entropy of oxidation of chlorogenic acid are calculated using thermochemistry calculations. The calculations in aqueous solution are carried out with the use of polarizable continuum solvation method. Theoretical standard electrode potential of chlorogenic acid is achieved to be 0.580 V versus standard calomel electrode (SCE) which is in agreement with the experimental value of 0.617 V obtained experimentally in this work. The difference is consistent with the values we previously reported for other quinone derivatives.

Solvent effects on geminate recombination dynamics after photodetachment

The time-dependent survival probability for photoelectrons produced following resonant excitation of I − in its first charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) band is determined by femtosecond pump–probe spectroscopy. The solvent effect on localization and recombination dynamics of the detached solvated electrons in various hydroxylic solvents (H 2O, CH 3OH, C 2H 5OH, C 3H 7OH, C 4H 9OH) is studied. The data are consistent with a caged geminate pair being formed in the CTTS photodetachment step. In all solvents, the geminate recombination of the detached electron can be modeled as competition between diffusive escape from an attractive short-range potential (∼3 k B T) and reverse electron transfer to reform ground state iodide.

QO Site Deficiency Can Be Compensated by Extragenic Mutations in the Hinge Region of the Iron-Sulfur Protein in the bc1 Complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The mitochondrial bc(1) complex catalyzes the oxidation of ubiquinol and the reduction of cytochrome (cyt) c. The cyt b mutation A144F has been introduced in yeast by the biolistic method. This residue is located in the cyt b cd(1) amphipathic helix in the quinol-oxidizing (Q(O)) site. The resulting mutant was respiration-deficient and was affected in the quinol binding and electron transfer rates at the Q(O) site. An intragenic suppressor mutation was selected (A144F+F179L) that partially alleviated the defect of quinol oxidation of the original mutant A144F. The suppressor mutation F179L, located at less than 4 A from A144F, is likely to compensate directly the steric hindrance caused by phenylalanine at position 144. A second set of suppressor mutations was obtained, which also partially restored the quinol oxidation activity of the bc(1) complex. They were located about 20 A from A144F in the hinge region of the iron-sulfur protein (ISP) between residues 85 and 92. This flexible region is crucial for the movement of the ISP between cyt b and cyt c(1) during enzyme turnover. Our results suggested that the compensatory effect of the mutations in ISP was due to the repositioning of this subunit on cyt b during quinol oxidation. This genetic and biochemical study thus revealed the close interaction between the cyt b cd(1) helix in the quinol-oxidizing Q(O) site and the ISP via the flexible hinge region and that fine-tuning of the Q(O) site catalysis can be achieved by subtle changes in the linker domain of the ISP.

Bidirectional Electron Transfer in Photosystem I: Accumulation of A0-in A-Side or B-Side Mutants of the Axial Ligand to Chlorophyll A0

Photosystem I contains two potential electron transfer pathways between P(700) and F(X). These branches are made up of the electron transfer chain components A, A(0), and A(1). The primary electron acceptor A(0) is a chlorophyll a monomer that could be one or both of the two chlorophyll molecules, eC-A(3)/eC-B(3), identified in the 2.5 A resolution structure. The eC-A(3)/eC-B(3) chlorophylls are both coordinated by the sulfur atom of a methionine. This coordination is highly unusual, as interactions between the acid Mg(2+) and the soft base sulfur are weak. The eC-A(3)/eC-B(3) chlorophylls also are located close to one of the connecting chlorophylls that may link the antenna and the electron transfer chain chlorophylls. Due to their location in the structure, the eC-A(3)/eC-B(3) chlorophylls may play a role in both excitation energy transfer and electron transfer. To test the role of the eC-A(3)/eC-B(3) chlorophylls in electron transfer, Met-684 of PsaA and Met-664 of PsaB have been changed to His, Ser, and Leu. Replacement of either M(A684) or M(B664) results in a significant alteration in growth phenotype. The His and Leu mutants are very light sensitive in the presence of oxygen. Growth is impaired to a greater extent in the B-side mutants. However, all of the mutants are able to grow anaerobically at comparable rates. The His and Ser mutants all accumulate PSI at a level similar to that of wild type, whereas the Leu mutants have reduced amounts of PSI. Ultrafast transient absorbance measurements show that the (A(0)(-) - A(0)) difference signal accumulates in the MH(A684) and MH(B664) mutants under neutral conditions, demonstrating that electron transfer between A(0)(-) and A(1) is blocked or significantly slowed. The results show that both the A-branch and the B-branch of the ETC are active in PSI from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

From evolution to green chemistry: rationalization of biomimetic oxygen-transfer cascades.

Thermodynamic electron-transfer potentials from biology textbooks elucidate the sequence of electron-transfer events in the respiratory chain in mitochondria. In this study, thermodynamic and kinetic oxygen-transfer potentials have been defined and predicted for oxidants and substrates using density functional theory, aiming to rationalize multiple oxygen-transfer events in chemical catalysis, particularly in current developments of the Sharpless dihydroxylation. Key transition states for competing mechanisms in a recent dihydroxylation method containing the olefin, osmium tetraoxide, methyltrioxorhenium(VII), a chiral tertiary amine, and the green terminal oxidant hydrogen peroxide have been investigated rigorously. The calculations show the amine to function as an oxygen-transfer mediator between rhenium peroxides and osma-2,5-dioxolanes, in addition to its role as a carrier of chiral information. Unique mechanistic and stereoelectronic patterns in this oxygen-transfer cascade explain the unexpected failure of reactivity predictions using simpler models such as Marcus theory.

Immobilized Cytochrome c Sensor in Organic/Aqueous Media for the Characterization of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Antioxidants

AbstractA method for the characterization of antioxidants is introduced, which allows the measurement of pure hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances as well as complex cosmetic creams. The sensor is based on cytochrome c covalently immobilized on a gold wire electrode working in mixtures of phosphate buffer and organic solvents. It is combined with a superoxide generating enzyme system. The decrease of the superoxide concentration in the test solution by the added antioxidants is detected and used for the quantification of their antioxidative efficiency. Electrochemical properties of immobilized cytochrome c, such as formal potential and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant, have been investigated in mixtures of aqueous buffer and DMSO, methanol, butanediol, and THF. The maximum organic solvent content for quasi‐reversible electrode behavior was correlated to spectroscopic measurements. The activity of the radical producing enzyme in such media was determined and the radical generation characterized. The antioxidative properties of pure substance such as ascorbic acid and Biochanin A as well as of five anti‐ageing cosmetic creams were studied. This showed also the influence of matrix composition on the efficiency of antioxidative supplements.

The Plant Biotin Synthase Reaction: IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ESSENTIAL MITOCHONDRIAL ACCESSORY PROTEIN COMPONENTS

In plants, the last step of the biotin biosynthetic pathway is localized in mitochondria. This chemically complex reaction is catalyzed by the biotin synthase protein, encoded by the bio2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. Unidentified mitochondrial proteins in addition to the bio2 gene product are obligatory for the reaction to occur. In order to identify these additional proteins, potato mitochondrial matrix was fractionated onto different successive chromatographic columns. Combination experiments using purified Bio2 protein and the resulting mitochondrial matrix subfractions together with a genomic based research allowed us to identify mitochondrial adrenodoxin, adrenodoxin reductase, and cysteine desulfurase (Nfs1) proteins as essential components for the plant biotin synthase reaction. Arabidopsis cDNAs encoding these proteins were cloned, and the corresponding proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli cells and purified. Purified recombinant adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase proteins formed in vitro an efficient low potential electron transfer chain that interacted with the bio2 gene product to reconstitute a functional plant biotin synthase complex. Bio2 from Arabidopsis is the first identified protein partner for this specific plant mitochondrial redox chain.

Expression, purification and characterisation of a Bacillus subtilis ferredoxin: a potential electron transfer donor to cytochrome P450 BioI

The fer gene from Bacillus subtilis has been subcloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the protein (Fer) purified to homogeneity. N-Terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry indicate that the initiator methionine is removed from the protein and that the molecular mass is 8732 Da consistent with that deduced from the gene sequence. Amino-acid sequence comparisons indicate that Fer is a ferredoxin containing a 4Fe–4S cluster. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the reduced form of Fer is typical for a [4Fe–4S] + cluster showing rhombic signals with g values of 2.07, 1.93 and 1.88. Reduced Fer also gives rise to a magnetic circular dichroism spectrum typical of a [4Fe–4S] + cluster. Potentiometric titrations indicate that Fer has a reduction potential of −385±10 mV for the [4Fe–4S] +–[4Fe–4S] 2+ redox couple, well within the normal range expected for such a ferredoxin. A proposed physiological role for Fer is as an electron donor to cytochrome P450 BioI. Studies on Fer binding to P450 BioI give rise to a K d value of 0.87±0.10 μM. Anaerobic experiments using CO-saturated buffer indicate that Fer is indeed capable of transferring electrons to this cytochrome P450 albeit at a fairly low rate.

Electron transfer in the ruthenated heme domain of cytochrome P450BM‐3

AbstractTwo mutants of the heme domain of Bacillus megaterium cytochrome P450BM‐3 (BMP) have been modified by covalent attachment of a photoactive Ru(bpy)3 complex at the surface‐exposed cysteine residues, 62 and 387. The laser‐flash/quench technique was used to study Ru1+ → Fe3+ electron transfer (ET) within the Ru‐BMP complexes. There was no reduction of the ferric heme by Ru1+ in Ru‐62‐BMP. In Ru‐387‐BMP, ET from Ru1+ to Fe3+ occurred with the rate constant of 4.6 × 105 s−1 and 2.5 × 106 s−1 in the absence and presence of substrate, respectively. The study demonstrates the importance of through‐bond pathways for electron flow to the heme iron of P450 and that the Gln387–Cys400 peptide is a potential ET root in P450BM‐3.

Periplasmic electron carriers and photo-induced electron transfer in the photosynthetic bacterium Ectothiorhodospira sp.

A detailed analysis of the periplasmic electron carriers of the photosynthetic bacterium Ectothiorhodospira sp. has been performed. Two low mid-point redox potential electron carriers, cytochrome c' and cytochrome c, are detected. A high potential iron-sulfur protein is the only high mid-point redox potential electron transfer component present in the periplasm. Analysis of light-induced absorption changes shows that this high potential iron-sulfur protein acts in vivo as efficient electron donor to the photo-oxidized high potential heme of the Ectothiorhodospira sp. reaction center.

Electron transfer reactions in the alkene mono-oxygenase complex from Nocardia corallina B-276

Nocardia corallina B-276 possesses a multi-component enzyme, alkene mono-oxygenase (AMO), that catalyses the stereoselective epoxygenation of alkenes. The reductase component of this system has been shown by EPR and fluorescence spectroscopy to contain two prosthetic groups, an FAD centre and a [2Fe-2S] cluster. The role of these centres in the epoxygenation reaction was determined by midpoint potential measurements and electron transfer kinetics. The order of potentials of the prosthetic groups of the reductase were FAD/FAD.=-216 mV, [2Fe-2S]/[2Fe-2S].=-160 mV and FAD./FAD.=-134 mV. Combined, these data implied that the reductase component supplied the energy required for the epoxygenation reaction and allowed a prediction of the mechanism of electron transfer within the AMO complex. The FAD moiety was reduced by bound NADH in a two-electron reaction. The electrons were then transported to the [2Fe-2S] centre one at a time, which in turn reduced the di-iron centre of the epoxygenase. Reduction of the di-iron centre is required for oxygen binding and substrate oxidation.

High yield preparation of a novel tetrakis[ruthenium tris(bipyridine)]calix[6]arene derivative with good diastereomeric purity

In order to develop methodology for the selective preparation of complex molecular structures with potential photochemical or electron transfer functions, the diastereoselective synthesis of multiple ruthenium tris(bipyridine) complexes tethered to a central calix[6]arene core was investigated. Applying recently developed methodology, the resolved precursor cis-Δ-[Ru(bpy) 2(DMSO)Cl]PF 6 (98.6% ee) was efficiently reacted with a novel calix[6]arene derivative, to give the tetrakis[Ru(bpy) 2(bpy′)]calix[6]arene derivative ( 9) with almost complete retention of absolute stereochemistry at each of the four metal centres, as seen by the unusually strong molar circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. The synthesis of racemic 9 was also carried out, and demonstrated to have an inactive CD spectrum.