Our recent studies indicate that a universal free energy landscape underpins high efficiency, near reversible electron bifurcation reactions in nature. I will describe what makes the proposed universal landscape so effective and will explore how it avoids the energy dissipating short-circuiting reactions. The study of many-particle biological transport networks is often based upon a mean-field approximation. We explored the limitations of the mean-field approximation for many-particle transport in the context of enzyme function and biological hopping transport networks. We find that the mean-field approximation fails to describe free energy transducing nanostructures that couple energetically downhill reaction(s) with energetically uphill reaction(s), as in redox coupled proton pumps and reversible electron bifurcation. The mean-field approximation fails to capture  correlations that are essential to prevent slippage events in the energy transducing networks, a defect that is absent in the mean-field description of simpler linear hopping chains.

Free energy transduction is an Achilles heel of mean-field transport theory

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.