Year: 1997
Type: review
Abstract: Although oxygen is a powerful oxidant, the triplet ground state of dioxygen constitutes a kinetic barrier for oxidation of biological molecules, which are mostly singlet state (1). However, the unpaired orbitals of dioxygen can sequentially accommodate single electrons to yield O·̄2, H2O2, the very reactive ⋅OH, and water (Fig. 1,Reaction 1). The oxidative potential of atmospheric oxygen is maintained by the non-alignment of electron spins, and aerobic life is based upon harnessing energy via the catalytic spin pairing of triplet oxygen by the electron transport chain (2).
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry
Authors: Ernst S. Henle, Stuart Linn
Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Language: English
Subfield: Inorganic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,430
OpenAlex ID: W1982870743