Investigation and Optimization of Electron Transfer in Membrane Proteins

圣弗朗西斯学院化学学部的启动基金支持罗斯·安·克拉克教授的研究。本研究的主题是研究和优化膜蛋白中的电子转移，以便更好地了解其结构稳定性以及这种稳定性如何影响活细胞中能量转导所必需的电子传递特性。要研究的系统包括非水介质中的膜蛋白，模型膜（脂质体）中的蛋白质，以及电极表面上结合到二维膜中的蛋白质。将利用电化学和光谱电化学方法研究溶液中的蛋白质和蛋白质单层。这些研究将有助于阐明控制电子转移的机制，并将利用马库斯理论对结果进行分析。这个项目对于理解化学和生物学之间的界面过程非常重要，也将有助于促进分析中使用的技术的发展。了解控制生命系统中电子转移的因素也有助于优化生物传感器系统。

This starter grant award of the Chemistry Division to St. Francis College supports the research of Professor Rose Ann Clark. The theme of the research is the investigation and optimization of electron transfer in membrane proteins in order to gain a better understanding of their structural stability and how this stability affects the electron transport properties essential for energy transduction in living cells. Systems to be studied include membrane proteins in nonaqueous media, proteins in model membranes (liposomes), and proteins incorporated into a two-dimensional membrane on the electrode surface. The proteins in solution and the protein monolayers will be investigated using electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. These studies will help elucidate the mechanisms controlling electron transfer, and the results will be analyzed using Marcus theory.This project is important for understanding processes at the interface between chemistry and biology and will also help advance development of the techniques used in the analyses. Understanding the factors that control electron transfer in living systems should also lead to optimized systems for biosensors.