A great many of biological processes involve the transfer of charged particles: electrons and protons. The electrostatic interaction of a moving charge with its surroundings, primarily with protein, is the major factor determining the thermodynamics and kinetics involved. This paper treats protein as a pre-organized highly-polar low-dielectric medium that possesses a pre-existent intraprotein electric field, a low reorganization energy, and a wide range of dielectric relaxation times. These specific protein features are the factors controlling the catalytic acceleration of biochemical reactions. Methods for quantitatively calculating the energetics of a number of typical processes are considered, and examples of their application are given.

PACS: 87.10.−e, 87.14.E−, 87.15.−v (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0182.201212b.1275 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2012/12/b/ 000315989900002 2012PhyU...55.1192K Citation: Krishtalik L I "Proteins as specific polar media for charge transfer processes" Phys. Usp. 55 1192–1213 (2012) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 13th, December 2011, revised: 1st, February 2012, accepted: 7th, February 2012 Оригинал: Кришталик Л И «Белки как специфическая полярная среда процессов переноса заряда» УФН 182 1275–1300 (2012); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0182.201212b.1275