Electron Transfer Proteins as Electronic Conductors: Significance of the Metal and Its Binding Site in the Blue Cu Protein, Azurin.

ABSTRACT: Electron transfer (ET) proteins are biomolecules with specific functions, selected by evolution. As such they are attractive candidates for use in potential bioelectronic devices. The blue copper protein azurin (Az) is one of the most-studied ET proteins. Traditional spectroscopic, electrochemical, and kinetic methods employed for studying ET to/from the protein's Cu ion have been complemented more recently by studies of electrical conduction through a monolayer of Az in the solid-state, sandwiched between electrodes. As the latter type of measurement does not require involvement of a redox process, it also allows monitoring electronic transport (ETp) via redox-inactive Az-derivatives. Here, results of macroscopic ETp via redox-active and -inactive Az derivatives, i.e., Cu(II) and Cu(I)-Az

SUBMITTER: Amdursky N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5115354 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature