Conductance of a biomolecular wire

Iris Visoly-Fisher, Kayvon Daie, Yuichi Terazono, Christian Herrero, Fernando Fungo, Luis Otero, Edgardo Durantini, Juana J. Silber, Leonides Sereno, Devens Gust, Thomas Moore, Ana Moore, Stuart Lindsay

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Carotenoids (Car) act as "wires" that discharge unwanted electrons in the reaction center of higher plants. One step in this "side-path" electron conduction is thought to be mediated by Car oxidation. We have carried out direct measurements of the conductance of single-Car molecules under potential control in a membrane-mimicking environment, and we found that when Car are oxidized conductance is enhanced and the electronic decay constant (β) is decreased. However, the neutral molecule may already be conductive enough to account for observed electron transfer rates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8686-8690
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume103
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 6 2006

Keywords

  • Carotenoid
  • Molecular electronics
  • Photosynthesis
  • Potential control
  • Single molecule

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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