Conductance of a biomolecular wire.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 16728508.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 1482640.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
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 (beta) is decreased. However, the neutral molecule may already be conductive enough to account for observed electron transfer rates.
Medical subject headings
- Carotenoids
- Electric Conductivity