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Structural and mechanistic aspects of flavoproteins: probes of hydrogen tunnelling
Author(s) -
Hay Sam,
Pudney Christopher R.,
Scrutton Nigel S.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07121.x
Subject(s) - quantum tunnelling , flavoprotein , chemical physics , quantum , chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , enzyme , quantum mechanics , materials science , biochemistry
At least half of all enzyme‐catalysed reactions are thought to involve a hydrogen transfer. In the last 10 years, it has become apparent that many of these reactions will occur, in part, or in full, by quantum mechanical tunnelling. We are particularly interested in the role of promoting vibrations on H transfer, and the Old Yellow Enzyme family of flavoproteins has proven to be an excellent model system with which to examine such reactions. In this minireview, we describe new and established experimental methods used to study H‐tunnelling in these enzymes and we consider some practical issues important to such studies. The application of these methods has provided strong evidence linking protein dynamics and H‐tunnelling in biological systems.