Electron transfer in biological systems

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In recent years, the captivating world of photoactivated proteins has captured the spotlight, particularly for their role in enabling creatures to perceive Earth's magnetic field through their senses. However, the intricate details of how these proteins work their magic in different organisms continue to be a hot topic in the scientific community.

In our quest for understanding, we turn to theoretical investigations, where we draw upon Marcus-like theories to uncover the hidden mechanisms that govern the transfer of electrons. These electrons play a crucial role in the ever-changing states of photo-activated proteins, like cryptochromes, photolyases, and more. With the help of real-time electron transfer simulations, backed by robust theoretical frameworks and insights from collaborative experiments, we aim to unravel the secrets behind what makes these proteins tick. Our mission is to shed light on the fundamental processes driving the dynamic world of biological electron transfers, providing a deeper insight into their vital roles within the intricate realm of biochemistry.

Recent Publications

Structural Flexibility Slows Down Charge Transfers in Diaminoterephthalate-C60 Dyads, Daniel Timmer, Germann Hergert, Luca Gerhards, Daniel C. Lünemann, Nils Schröder, Tobias Greven, Jarl Ivar van der Vlugt, Antonietta De Sio, Ilia A. Solov'yov, Jens Christoffers, Christoph Lienau, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 128, 2380-2391, (2024)
Tracking the Electron Transfer Cascade in European Robin Cryptochrome 4 Mutants, Daniel Timmer, Anders Frederiksen, Daniel C. Lünemann, Anitta R. Thomas, Jingjing Xu, Rabea Bartölke, Jessica Schmidt, Tomáš Kubař, Antonietta De Sio, Ilia A. Solov'yov, Henrik Mouritsen, Christoph Lienau, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145, 11566-11578, (2023)
Quantum Effects in Biological Systems, Anders Frederiksen, Thomas Teusch, Ilia A. Solov'yov, in: Dynamics of Systems on the Nanoscale, edited by: Ilia A. Solov'yov and Alexey V. Verkhovtsev and Andrei V. Korol and Andrey V. Solov'yov, 201-248, Springer, (2022)
Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird, Jingjing Xu, Lauren E. Jarocha, Tilo Zollitsch, Marcin Konowalczyk, Kevin B. Henbest,Sabine Richert, Matthew J. Golesworthy, Jessica Schmidt, Victoire Déjean, Daniel J. C. Sowood, Marco Bassetto, Jiate Luo, Jessica R. Walton, Jessica Fleming, Yujing Wei, Tommy L. Pitcher, Gabriel Moise, Maike Herrmann, Hang Yin, Haijia Wu, Rabea Bartölke, Stefanie J. Käsehagen, Simon Horst, Glen Dautaj, Patrick D. F. Murton, Angela S. Gehrckens, Yogarany Chelliah, Joseph S. Takahashi, Karl-Wilhelm Koch, Stefan Weber, Ilia A. Solov'yov, Can Xie, Stuart R. Mackenzie, Christiane R. Timmel, Henrik Mouritsen, P., Nature, 594, 535-540, (2021)
Molecular Insights into Variable Electron Transfer in Amphibian Cryptochrome, Emil Sjulstok, Gesa Lüdemann, Tomáš Kubař, Marcus Elstner, Ilia A. Solov'yov, Biophysical Journal, 114, 2563-2572, (2018)