Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Biology: Results from Synergistic Studies in Natural and Model Systems

2009/04/03 by Steven Y. Reece, Daniel G. Nocera · 1 voice · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · #Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms #Metal-Catalyzed Oxygenation Mechanisms #Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies

paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.biochem.78.080207.092132

openalex publication_date 2009/04/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) underpins energy conversion in biology. PCET may occur with the unidirectional or bidirectional transfer of a proton and electron and may proceed synchronously or asynchronously. To illustrate the role of PCET in biology, this review presents complementary biological and model systems that explore PCET in electron transfer (ET) through hydrogen bonds [azurin as compared to donor-acceptor (D-A) hydrogen-bonded networks], the activation of C-H bonds [alcohol dehydrogenase and soybean lipoxygenase (SLO) as compared to Fe(III) metal complexes], and the generation and transport of amino acid radicals [photosystem II (PSII) and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) as compared to tyrosine-modified photoactive Re(I) and Ru(II) complexes]. In providing these comparisons, the fundamental principles of PCET in biology are illustrated in a tangible way.

Citations

• PROTON-COUPLED ELECTRON TRANSFER: A Reaction Chemist's View
• Electron tunneling through proteins
• De Novo Proteins as Models of Radical Enzymes
• COOPERATION OF CHARGES IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC O2 EVOLUTION–I. A LINEAR FOUR STEP MECHANISM
• ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PROTEINS
• PROTON-COUPLED ELECTRON TRANSFER

Cited by

• Electronic origin of reorganization energy in interfacial electron transfer
• Randomness and Multi-level Interactions in Biology

Discussions

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