Development of a model system for the study of long distance electron transfer in peptides

We have designed and synthesized a peptide model in which stepwise electron transfer (ET) through amino acid side chains could be observed. An injection system, which generates an electron hole upon laser irradiation, was connected directly to the aromatic side chain of a modified C-terminal amino acid. This electron acceptor could be observed by transient absorption spectroscopy. The N-terminal amino acid tyrosine acts as an electron donor, giving a different signal in the transient absorption spectrum. Additional non-natural oxidizable aromatic amino acids were synthesized as spectroscopic sensors to detect oxidized amino acid side chains as chemical intermediates in long range ET.