Electron Transfer in Biological Systems

Bettendorff, Lucien

doi:10.3390/biophysica6020027

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Electron Transfer in Biological Systems

Bettendorff, Lucien

2026 • In Biophysica, 6, p. 27

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/343512

DOI
10.3390/biophysica6020027

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Keywords :

redox reactions; carbon oxidation state; tunneling; quinones; flavins; electron bifurcation; proton gradient

Abstract :

[en] Electron transfer is one of the most essential processes in biological systems. Redox reactions, either directly or indirectly, drive the main ATP-synthesizing pathways, especially those relying on a chemiosmotic mechanism, and as such, they are fundamental to photosynthesis and respiration. During biochemical redox reactions, electrons are transferred from a low-potential donor to a high-potential acceptor, mainly affecting the oxidation state of carbon atoms. The mechanism of electron transfer remains an intriguing enigma because of the wave-particle duality of subatomic particles. According to the biophysical conditions, electrons can be transferred by quantum tunneling or hopping from one redox site to another. While the driving force is always the electrochemical potential, a particularly interesting case is reversible electron bifurcation, where downhill (exergonic) redox reactions are coupled with uphill (endergonic) reactions by splitting the electrons of a twoelectron donor. Here, we aim to discuss these different mechanisms in a comprehensive review accessible to students, teachers, and researchers in biological sciences.

Research Center/Unit :

GIGA Neurosciences-Neurophysiology - ULiège

Disciplines :

Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology

Author, co-author :

Bettendorff, Lucien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biochimie et physiologie humaine et pathologique ; Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Language :

English

Title :

Electron Transfer in Biological Systems

Publication date :

31 March 2026

Journal title :

Biophysica

eISSN :

2673-4125

Publisher :

Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), Basel, Switzerland

Volume :

Pages :

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique

Available on ORBi :

since 31 March 2026

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