Redox Asymmetry Research Articles

Highly reversible transition metal migration in superstructure-free Li-rich oxide boosting voltage stability and redox symmetry

The further practical applications of Li-rich layered oxides are impeded by voltage decay and redox asymmetry, which are closely related to the structural degradation involving irreversible transition metal migration. It has been demonstrated that the superstructure ordering in O2-type materials can effectively suppress voltage decay and redox asymmetry. Herein, we elucidate that the absence of this superstructure ordering arrangement in a Ru-based O2-type oxide can still facilitate the highly reversible transition metal migration. We certify that Ru in superstructure-free O2-type structure can unlock a quite different migration path from Mn in mostly studied cases. The highly reversible migration of Ru helps the cathode maintain the structural robustness, thus realizing terrific capacity retention with neglectable voltage decay and inhibited oxygen redox asymmetry. We untie the knot that the absence of superstructure ordering fails to enable a high-performance Li-rich layered oxide cathode material with suppressed voltage decay and redox asymmetry.

Slab gliding, a hidden factor that induces irreversibility and redox asymmetry of lithium-rich layered oxide cathodes

Lithium-rich layered oxides, despite their potential as high-energy-density cathode materials, are impeded by electrochemical performance deterioration upon anionic redox. Although this deterioration is believed to primarily result from structural disordering, our understanding of how it is triggered and/or occurs remains incomplete. Herein, we propose a theoretical picture that clarifies the irreversible transformation and redox asymmetry of lithium-rich layered oxides by introducing a series of global and local dynamic structural evolution processes involving slab gliding and transition-metal migration. We show that slab gliding plays a key role in trigger/initiating the structural disordering and consequent degradation of the anionic redox reaction. We further reveal that the ‘concerted disordering mechanism’ of slab gliding and transition-metal migration produces spontaneously irreversible/asymmetric lithiation and de-lithiation pathways, causing irreversible structural deterioration and the asymmetry of the anionic redox reaction. Our findings suggest slab gliding as a crucial, yet underexplored, method for achieving a reversible anionic redox reaction.

Mitofusin 2 sustains the axonal mitochondrial network to support presynaptic Ca2+ homeostasis and the synaptic vesicle cycle in rat hippocampal axons.

Mitochondria exert powerful control over cellular physiology, contributing to ion homeostasis, energy production, and metabolite biosynthesis. The trafficking and function of these organelles are particularly important in neurons, with impaired mitochondrial function or altered morphology observed in every neurodegenerative disorder studied. While mitochondrial biosynthetic products play a crucial role in maintaining cellular function, their resulting byproducts can have negative consequences. Thus, organelle quality control (QC) mechanisms that maintain mitochondrial function are imperative to restrict destructive signaling cascades in the cell. Axons are particularly sensitive to damage, and there is little consensus regarding the mechanisms that mediate mitochondrial QC in this compartment.Here, we first investigated the unstressed behavior of mitochondria in rat hippocampal neurons of mixed sex, focusing on mitochondrial trafficking and fusion to better understand potential QC mechanisms. We observed size and redox asymmetry of mitochondrial traffic in axons, suggesting an active QC mechanism in this compartment. We also document biochemical complementation upon the fusion and fission of axonal mitochondria. Eliminating fusion by knocking down the neuronal mitochondrial fusion protein mitofusin 2 (MFN2) reduced the rates of axonal mitochondrial trafficking and fusion, decreased the levels of synaptic vesicle (SV) proteins, inhibited exocytosis, and impaired SV recruitment from the reserve pool during extended stimulation. MFN2 knockdown also resulted in presynaptic Ca2+ dyshomeostasis. Remarkably, upon MFN2 knockdown, presynaptic mitochondria sequestered Ca2+ more efficiently, effectively limiting presynaptic Ca2+ transients during stimulation. These results support an active mitochondrial trafficking and fusion-related QC process that supports presynaptic Ca2+ handling and the SV cycle.Significance statement:Decreased or altered mitochondrial function is observed in many disease states. All neurodegenerative diseases co-present with some sort of mitochondrial abnormality. Therefore, identifying quality control mechanisms that sustain the mitochondrial network in neurons, and particularly in axons, is of significant interest. The response of axonal mitochondria to acutely applied toxins or injury has been studied in detail. Although informative, the response of neurons to these insults might not be physiologically relevant, so it is crucial to also study the basal behavior of axonal mitochondria. Here, we use fluorescent biosensors to investigate the mitochondrial network in neurons and examine the role of mitofusin 2 in maintaining the axonal mitochondrial network and in supporting the synaptic vesicle cycle.

Structurally Regulating Cation Migration Suppresses Voltage Fade and Redox Asymmetry in Lithium-Rich Layered Oxides

Although lithium-rich layered oxides hold the greatest promise to transcend energy-density limitations in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries because of their high reversible capacity (exceeding 250 mAh g−1) and high-voltage anionic redox chemistry, the inevitable voltage decay, or gradual decrease in the average discharge voltage during cycling remains one some of the most pernicious problems jeopardizing their real-world application. Of paramount importance in understanding the fundamentals of the voltage decay is that its essential determinant is not the transition metal (TM) migration itself but the resulting confinement of TM ions in the Li layer. Therefore, a substantive key lies in improving the intra-cycle reversibility of TM migration. In this work, reversible intra-cycle TM migration is first demonstrated by modifying the oxygen lattice of lithium-rich layered oxides. O2-type stackings inherently allow reversible intra-cycle TM migration, thus delivering outstanding voltage retention over extended cycling and far outperforming their O3-phase counterparts and other lithium-rich layered 3d metal oxides. Suppressed voltage decay arose from the retention of the pristine layered structure with highly reversible TM migration over extended cycling was revealed by various structural characterizations with the aid of first-principles calculations. Our findings indicate that tailoring the migration path of TM ions provides a viable strategy to address the critical issues of voltage decay, which may help rejuvenate the research field of lithium-rich layered oxides.

Voltage decay and redox asymmetry mitigation by reversible cation migration in lithium-rich layered oxide electrodes.

Despite the high energy density of lithium-rich layered-oxide electrodes, their real-world implementation in batteries is hindered by the substantial voltage decay on cycling. This voltage decay is widely accepted to mainly originate from progressive structural rearrangements involving irreversible transition-metal migration. As prevention of this spontaneous cation migration has proven difficult, a paradigm shift toward management of its reversibility is needed. Herein, we demonstrate that the reversibility of the cation migration of lithium-rich nickel manganese oxides can be remarkably improved by altering the oxygen stacking sequences in the layered structure and thereby dramatically reducing the voltage decay. The preeminent intra-cycle reversibility of the cation migration is experimentally visualized, and first-principles calculations reveal that an O2-type structure restricts the movements of transition metals within the Li layer, which effectively streamlines the returning migration path of the transition metals. Furthermore, we propose that the enhanced reversibility mitigates the asymmetry of the anionic redox in conventional lithium-rich electrodes, promoting the high-potential anionic reduction, thereby reducing the subsequent voltage hysteresis. Our findings demonstrate that regulating the reversibility of the cation migration is a practical strategy to reduce voltage decay and hysteresis in lithium-rich layered materials.

Control of the rectifying effect and direction by redox asymmetry in Rh2-based molecular diodes.

Four asymmetrical self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) consisting of two subunits with different Rh2 building blocks present a pronounced rectifying behavior. The rectification ratio (RR) increases on increasing the redox potential difference between the two Rh2 subunits, and the rectifying direction can be reversed by reordering the subunits in the assembly.

A study of asymmetrical mixed-valent Mo2-Mo2 complexes in the class III regime.

Three novel asymmetrical dimolybdenum dimers, [Mo2(DAniF)3]2(μ-OOCCOS) (DAniF = N,N'-di(p-anisyl)formamidinate) ([OO-OS]), [Mo2(DAniF)3]2(μ-S2CCO2) ([SS-OO]), and [Mo2(DAniF)3]2(μ-SSCCOS) ([SS-OS]), have been synthesized and characterized by either single-crystal X-ray crystallography or 1H NMR spectroscopy. The structural asymmetry for these compounds gives rise to a redox asymmetry, which enlarges the potential separation (ΔE1/2) between the two [Mo2] units. The mixed-valance (MV) species [OO-OS]+, [SS-OO]+ and [SS-OS]+, prepared by one-electron chemical oxidation of the neutral precursors, exhibit an intense and symmetrical intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) absorption band in the near-IR region, along with the high energy metal (δ) to ligand (π*) (ML) and ligand (π) to metal (δ) charge transfer (LMCT) absorptions. The LMCT band, which is absent in the neutral precursors, is reflective of the cationic [Mo2]+ unit in the MV species; therefore, it is evidenced that in the MV complexes optical electron transfer from the electron donor to acceptor occurs, while the thermal process is energetically unfavorable. The C(1)-C(2) bonds (1.44-1.48 Å) that connect the two [Mo2] units are significantly shorter than a C-C single bond, showing that the two Mo2 centers are strongly coupled. For the series, TD-DFT calculations show that the molecular orbitals have an unsymmetrical charge density distribution over the two dimolybdenum sites. For each of the complex systems, the calculated orbital energy gaps, SOMO(δ - δ)-LUMO(bridging ligand π*), HOMO-8(bridging ligand π)-SOMO(δ - δ) and SOMO(δ - δ)-HOMO-1(δ + δ), are in good agreement with the observed MLCT, LMCT and IVCT absorption band energies, respectively. The consistency in energy between the IVCT band and the SOMO(δ - δ)-HOMO-1(δ + δ) gap permits assignment of the MV complexes to Class III in the Robin-Day scheme.

Optical Determination of Electron Transfer Dynamics and Kinetics for Asymmetrical [Mo2]–ph–[Mo2] Systems

We report the study, in terms of electronic coupling (EC) and electron transfer (ET), on three asymmetrical Mo2 dimers [Mo2(DAniF)3]2[μ-(NH)OCC6H4CO2] ([NO–ph–OO]) (DAniF = N,N′-di(p-anisyl)formamidinate), [Mo2(DAniF)3]2[μ-(NH)2CC6H4CO2] ([NN–ph–OO]), and [Mo2(DAniF)3]2[μ-(NH)2CC6H4C(NH)O] ([NN–ph–NO]), which are closely related to the three symmetrical analogues [OO–ph–OO], [NO–ph–NO], and [NN–ph–NN] reported earlier. The mixed-valence (MV) complexes [NO–ph–OO]+, [NN–ph–OO]+, and [NN–ph–NO]+ exhibit metal to ligand and ligand to metal charge transfer bands, along with an intervalence (IV) transition absorption in the Near-IR region. The free energy change (ΔG°) for ET is determined by comparing the redox potential splitting (ΔE1/2) and IV transition energy (EIT) with the data for the symmetrical species. The reorganization energy (λ) is estimated from the Hush model (Δν1/2 = [16ln(2)λRT]1/2). Significantly, electrochemical and optical analyses verify EIT = ΔG° + λ, the core energetic relationship underlying the semiclassical theories. With the electronic coupling parameters calculated from the method suggested by Creutz, Newton and Sutin (HMM′ = ∼ 500 cm–1), the adiabatic ET rate constants ket (f) are determined to be ∼1010 s–1 for [NO–ph–OO]+ and [NN–ph–NO]+, smaller than ket (r) for the backward reaction and ket for the symmetrical analogues by 1 order of magnitude, and ∼109 s–1 for [NN–ph–OO]+. This work illustrates that the redox asymmetry in D–B–A systems controls the ET rate and direction.

Substituent and Solvent Effects on the Electrochemical Properties and Intervalence Transfer in Asymmetric Mixed‐Valent Complexes Consisting of Cyclometalated Ruthenium and Ferrocene

Four heterodimetallic complexes [Ru(Fcdpb)(L)](PF6) (Fcdpb=2-deprotonated form of 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)-5-ferrocenylbenzene; L=2,6-bis-(N-methylbenzimidazolyl)-pyridine (Mebip), 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (tpy), 4-nitro-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (NO2tpy), and trimethyl-4,4',4''-tricarboxylate-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (Me3tctpy)) have been prepared. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of these complexes have been examined in CH2Cl2, CH3NO2, CH3CN, and acetone. These complexes display two consecutive redox couples owing to the stepwise oxidation of the ferrocene (Fc) and ruthenium units, respectively. The potential difference, ΔE(1/2)(E(1/2)(Ru(II/III))-E(1/2)(Fc(0/+))), decreased slightly with increasing solvent donocity. The mixed-valent states of these complexes have been generated by electrolysis and the resulting intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) bands have been analyzed by Hush theory. Good linear relationships exist between the energy of the IVCT band, E(op), and ΔE(1/2) of four mixed-valent complexes in a given solvent.

Turnover-Dependent Covalent Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus Coenzyme A-Disulfide Reductase by Coenzyme A-Mimetics: Mechanistic and Structural Insights

Disruption of the unusual thiol-based redox homeostasis mechanisms in Staphylococcus aureus represents a unique opportunity to identify new metabolic processes and new targets for intervention. Targeting uncommon aspects of CoASH biosynthetic and redox functions in S. aureus, the antibiotic CJ-15,801 has recently been demonstrated to be an antimetabolite of the CoASH biosynthetic pathway in this organism; CoAS-mimetics containing α,β-unsaturated sulfone and carboxyl moieties have also been exploited as irreversible inhibitors of S. aureus coenzyme A-disulfide reductase (SaCoADR). In this work we have determined the crystal structures of three of these covalent SaCoADR-inhibitor complexes, prepared by inactivation of wild-type enzyme during turnover. The structures reveal the covalent linkage between the active-site Cys43-S(γ) and C(β) of the vinyl sulfone or carboxyl moiety. The full occupancy of two inhibitor molecules per enzyme dimer, together with kinetic analyses of the wild-type/C43S heterodimer, indicates that half-sites-reactivity is not a factor during normal catalytic turnover. Further, we provide the structures of SaCoADR active-site mutants; in particular, Tyr419'-OH plays dramatic roles in directing intramolecular reduction of the Cys43-SSCoA redox center, in the redox asymmetry observed for the two FAD per dimer in NADPH titrations, and in catalysis. The two conformations observed for the Ser43 side chain in the C43S mutant structure lend support to a conformational switch for Cys43-S(γ) during its catalytic Cys43-SSCoA/Cys43-SH redox cycle. Finally, the structures of the three inhibitor complexes provide a framework for design of more effective inhibitors with therapeutic potential against several major bacterial pathogens.

A Redox Asymmetric, Cyclometalated Ruthenium Dimer: Toward Upconversion Dyes in Dye-Sensitized TiO2 Solar Cells

We have prepared the dinuclear ruthenium complexes [(R3-tpy)Ru(N∧C∧N-tpy)Ru(tpy)]3+ (R = H ([5a]3+), CO2Me ([6a]3+), N∧C(H)∧N-tpy = 4′-(3,5-dipyridylphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) and [(R3-tpy)Ru(N′∧C∧N′-tpy)Ru(tpy)]3+ (R = H ([5b]3+), CO2Me ([6b]3+), N′∧C(H)∧N′-tpy = 4′-(3,5-di(4-tert-butylpyridyl)phenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) in a stepwise manner. The directional nature of the bridging ligand, which is potentially cyclometalating on one side, induces large redox asymmetry in the resulting dinuclear complexes. One-electron oxidation gives rise to a strong metal-to-metal charge transfer transition from the [Ru(tpy2)]2+ moiety to the cycloruthenated group, centered at 1034 nm for [6b]4+. The localized nature of the oxidation processes, the shape of the NIR band, and TD-DFT calculations allow assignment of these systems to localized Robin−Day class II. Exclusive substitution of the terminal tpy ligand on the cyclometalated ruthenium with acid moieties allows selective att...

Metal–Metal Electronic Coupling in syn and anti Stereoisomers of Mixed‐Valent (FeCp)2‐, (RhL2)2‐, and (FeCp)(RhL2)‐as‐Indacenediide Ions

The extent of metal-metal electronic coupling was quantified for a series of syn and anti stereoisomers of (FeCp)(2)-, (RhL(2))(2)- and (FeCp)(RhL(2))- (L(2)=1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), L=CO) as-indacenediide mixed-valent ions by spectroelectrochemical and DFT studies. The effect of the syn/anti orientation of the metal units with respect to the planar aromatic ligand indicates that electron transfer occurs through the bridge rather than through space. The nature of the metal was found to be crucial: while homobimetallic diiron species are localised valence-trapped ions (Class II), the dirhodium analogues are almost delocalised mixed-valent ions (borderline and Class III). Finally, despite their redox asymmetry, even in the heterobimetallic iron-rhodium as-indacenediide complexes, strong metal-metal coupling is present. In fact, oxidation of the iron centre is accompanied by electron transfer from rhodium to iron and formation of a reactive 17-electron rhodium site. syn and anti Fe-Rh as-indacenediide complexes are rare examples of heterobimetallic systems which can be classified as borderline Class II/Class III species.

Charge Delocalization in the Special-Pair Radical Cation of Mutant Reaction Centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides from Stark Spectra and Nonadiabatic Spectral Simulations

Stark and absorption spectra for the hole-transfer band of the bacteriochlorophyll special pair in the wild-type and L131LH, M160LH, and L131LH/M160LH mutants of the bacterial reaction center of Rhodobacter sphaeroides are presented, along with extensive analyses based on nonadiabatic spectral simulations. Dramatic changes in the Stark spectra are induced by the mutations, changes that are readily interpreted in terms of the redox-energy asymmetry and degree of charge localization in the special-pair radical cation. The effect of mutagenesis on key properties such as the electronic coupling within the special pair and the reorganization energy associated with intervalence hole transfer are determined for the first time. Results for the L131LH and M160LH/L131LH mutants indicate that these species can be considered as influencing the special pair primarily through modulation of the redox asymmetry, as is usually conceptualized, but M160LH is shown to develop a wide range of effects that can be interpreted in terms of significant mutation-induced structural changes in and around the special pair. The nonadiabatic spectra simulations are performed using both a simple two-state 1-mode and an extensive four-state 70-mode model, which includes the descriptions of additional electronic states and explicitly treats the major vibrational modes involved. Excellent agreement between the two simulation approaches is obtained. The simple model is shown to reproduce key features of the Stark effect of the main intervalence transition, while the extensive model quantitatively reproduces most features of the observed spectra for both the electronic and the phase-phonon regions, thus giving a more comprehensive description of the effect of the mutations on the properties of the special-pair radical cation. These results for a series of closely related mixed-valence complexes show that the Stark spectra provide a sensitive indicator for the properties of the mixed-valence complexes and should serve as an instructive example on the application of nonadiabatic simulations to the study of mixed-valence complexes in general as well as other chemical systems akin to the photosynthetic special pair.

Probing the Transition between the Localised (Class II) and Localised‐to‐Delocalised (Class II–III) Regimes by Using Intervalence Charge‐Transfer Solvatochromism in a Series of Mixed‐Valence Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes

Intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) solvatochromism studies on the diastereoisomeric forms of [{Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)(mu-BL)](5+) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; BL=a series of di-bidentate polypyridyl bridging ligands) reveal that the solvent dependencies of the IVCT transitions decrease as the "tail" of the bridging ligand is extended, and the extent of delocalisation increases. Utilising a classical theoretical approach for the analysis of the intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) solvatochromism data, the subtle and systematic variation in the electronic properties of the bridging ligands can be correlated with the shift between the localised (class II) and localised-to-delocalised (class II-III) regimes. The investigation of the diastereoisomeric forms of two series of complexes incorporating analogous structurally rigid (fused) and nonrigid (unfused) bridging ligands demonstrates that the differences in the IVCT characteristics of the diastereoisomers of a given complex are accentuated in the latter case, due to a stereochemically induced redox asymmetry contribution. The marked dependence of the IVCT transitions on the stereochemical identity of the complexes provides a quantitative measure of the fundamental contributions of the reorganisational energy and redox asymmetry to the intramolecular electron-transfer barrier at the molecular level.

Contrasting electroabsorbance behavior of two borderline class II/class III mixed-valence systems

Intervalence Stark effect spectroscopy of a symmetrically substituted and an asymmetrically substituted derivative of the Creutz–Taube ion, ( NH 3 ) 5 Ru - pyrazine - Ru ( NH 3 ) 5 5 + , is reported. Like the formally mixed-valent parent ion, both appear to lie near the boundary between valence delocalization and valence localization. Remarkably, despite the close structural similarities of the two compounds investigated, the corresponding electroabsorbance spectra are grossly different. Furthermore, neither spectrum is well fit by a classic Liptay approach. An alternative, qualitative approach that allows for the possibility that the externally applied electric field itself affects the degree of valence delocalization and, therefore, the electroabsorbance spectrum, was employed. The alternative approach relies upon the availability of compounds closely analogous to the investigated compounds, but differing slightly in degree of redox asymmetry. A subtle method for creating such compounds is to partially encapsulate a parent compound with a crown ether, such that a lower symmetry assembly is obtained. Using this approach the unusual Stark responses, including the disparate responses for symmetric vs. asymmetric structures, are reasonably well reproduced. Intervalence-enhanced resonance Raman spectra provide additional support for the proposed interpretation.

Driving the Localized-to-Delocalized Transition in Unsymmetrical Dinuclear Ruthenium Mixed-Valence Complexes

The degree of delocalization in the symmetrical complexes [{Ru(bpy)2}2(μ-dpb′)]5+ and [{Ru(bpy)2}2(μ-dpb)]5+ (dpb = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,4-benzoquinoxaline; dpb′ = dipyrido(2,3-a;3′,2′-c)benzophenazine; bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) is diminished by the substitution of the terminal bpy ligands at one end of the complex. The results of a classical analysis for the diastereoisomeric forms of the series of complexes [{Ru(bpy)2}(μ-BL){Ru(pp)2}]5+ (pp = bpy, Me2bpy (4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine), Me4bpy (4,4′,5,5′-tetramethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)) indicate that a greater degree of ground-state delocalization exists in the complexes incorporating the bridging ligand dpb′ compared with the dpb analogue. A two-state analysis in which ΔE 0 (the redox asymmetry) is varied at constant H ab (the electronic coupling) and λ (the reorganizational energy) does not adequately describe the properties of the systems due to the importance of a third electronic state corresponding to the bridging ligand.

A unified description of the electrochemical, charge distribution, and spectroscopic properties of the special-pair radical cation in bacterial photosynthesis.

We apply our four-state 70-vibration vibronic-coupling model for the properties of the photosynthetic special-pair radical cation to: (1) interpret the observed correlations between the midpoint potential and the distribution of spin density between the two bacteriochlorophylls for 30 mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides, (2) interpret the observed average intervalence hole-transfer absorption energies as a function of spin density for six mutants, and (3) simulate the recently obtained intervalence electroabsorption Stark spectrum of the wild-type reaction center. While three new parameters describing the location of the sites of mutation with respect to the special pair are required to describe the midpoint-potential data, a priori predictions are made for the transition energies and the Stark spectrum. In general, excellent predictions are made of the observed quantities, with deviations being typically of the order of twice the experimental uncertainties. A unified description of many chemical and spectroscopic properties of the bacterial reaction center is thus provided. Central to the analysis is the assumption that the perturbations made to the reaction center, either via mutations of protein residues or by application of an external electric field, act only to independently modify the oxidation potentials of the two halves of the special pair and hence the redox asymmetry E0. While this appears to be a good approximation, clear evidence is presented that effects of mutation can be more extensive than what is allowed for. A thorough set of analytical equations describing the observed properties is obtained using the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation. These equations are generally appropriate for intervalence charge-transfer problems and include, for the first time, full treatment of both symmetric and antisymmetric vibrational motions. The limits of validity of the adiabatic approach to the full nonadiabatic problem are obtained.

Modeling the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center. VII. Full simulation of the intervalence hole–transfer absorption spectrum of the special-pair radical cation

ENDOR data suggests that the special-pair radical cation P+ from Rhodobacter sphaeroides is 68% localized on PL while simple interpretations of FTIR difference spectra based primarily on intensity information, but to some extent also bandwidths, suggest near-complete charge localization. We provide a complete a priori spectral simulation of the spectrum of P+ in the range 0–5000 cm−1, including explicit treatment of the high-resolution vibrational transitions, the low-resolution hole–transfer absorption centered at 2700 cm−1, and the resonance with the SHOMO to HOMO transition at 2200 cm−1 that resolve the issues concerning the nature of P+. The description of the vibrational aspects of the problem were taken from results of previous density-functional calculations, and a qualitatively realistic large number of vibrational modes (50 antisymmetric and 18–20 symmetric) were included. To facilitate the calculations, a new representation of the vibronic-coupling Hamiltonian for intervalence hole–transfer or electron–transfer problems is introduced, allowing the spectrum to be simulated efficiently using only up to 4×109 vibronic basis functions and leading also to new general analytical relationships. Observed spectra are fitted using seven adjustable chemical parameters describing the interactions between the four electronic states involved. The resulting fits provide unique descriptions of the parameters that are insensitive to the source of the observed spectrum or the nature of the symmetric modes used in the model, and all fitted parameters are found to be close in value to those from independent estimates. We determine the electronic coupling, antisymmetric-mode reorganization energy, and redox asymmetry to be J=0.126±0.002 eV, λ=0.139±0.003 eV, and E0=0.069±0.002 eV, respectively. Our description forms the basis of understanding for a wide range of other properties observed for Rhodobacter sphaeroides mutants, as well as the properties of the reaction centers from photosystems I, II, etc., facilitating a deeper understanding of the role of the special pair in initiating primary charge separation during photosynthesis.

Free Energy Relationships for the Outer-Sphere Anion–Anion and Anion–Cation Optical Electron Transitions Involving Common Cyanometalate (II) and (IV) Donors: Evidence for the Frequency-Distorted Reorganization Dynamics

This work is an extension of the research project on the outer-sphere optical charge transfer (CT) initiated by Prof. R.R. Dogonadze at the Laboratory founded by him in Tbilisi, Georgia. We report the band deconvolution procedures and accomplished free energy relationships for recently observed novel outer-sphere anion–anion and anion–cation optical electron transitions involving common cyanometalate II and IV ions, viz. [M(CN)x]4–, M = Fe, Ru, Os (x = 6) and M = Mo, W (n = 8) as electron donors, and [FeIII(CN)6]3– and [RuIII(NH3)6]3+ as electron acceptors, respectively. The CT band maximum vs. the redox asymmetry free energy relationships, constructed through the consideration of spin-orbit splitting effects, exhibit linear character with slopes close to unity as predicted theoretically, and fully confirm the assignment of these transitions to outer-sphere optical electron transitions as outlined in the preceding works. The preliminary comparative analysis of presented relationships based on the contemporary charge transfer theory and recent differential DO-D stretching overtone data strongly suggests the essential redox asymmetry for the reorganization free energy increments attributed to first solvating shells of cyanometalate ions involved.

Equilibrium analyses of the active-site asymmetry in enterococcal NADH oxidase: role of the cysteine-sulfenic acid redox center.

Recent studies [Mallett, T. C., and Claiborne, A. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 8790-8802] of the O2 reactivity of C42S NADH oxidase (O2 --> H2O2) revealed an asymmetric mechanism in which the two FADH2.NAD+ per reduced dimer display kinetic inequivalence. In this report we provide evidence indicating that the fully active, recombinant wild-type oxidase (O2 --> 2H2O) displays thermodynamic inequivalence between the two active sites per dimer. Using NADPH to generate the free reduced wild-type enzyme (EH2'/EH4), we have shown that NAD+ titrations lead to differential behavior as only one FADH2 per dimer binds NAD+ tightly to give the charge-transfer complex. The second FADH2, in contrast, transfers its electrons to the single Cys42-sulfenic acid (Cys42-SOH) redox center, which remains oxidized during the reductive titration. Titrations of the reduced NADH oxidase with oxidized 3-acetylpyridine and 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotides further support the conclusion that the two FADH2 per dimer in wild-type enzyme can be described as distinct "charge-transfer" and "electron-transfer" sites, with the latter site giving rise to either intramolecular (Cys42-SOH) or bimolecular (pyridine nucleotide) reduction. The reduced C42S mutant is not capable of intramolecular electron transfer on binding pyridine nucleotides, thus confirming that the Cys42-SOH center is in fact the source of the redox asymmetry observed with wild-type oxidase. These observations on the role of Cys42-SOH in the expression of thermodynamic inequivalence as observed in wild-type NADH oxidase complement the previously described kinetic inequivalence of the C42S mutant; taken together, these results provide the overlapping framework for an alternating sites cooperativity model of oxidase action.