Communication in a protein stack: Electron transfer between cytochrome c and bilirubin oxidase within a polyelectrolyte multilayer

Abstract

Assemblies of proteins and enzymes can serve as a model for mimicking biological signal transfer. A polyelectrolyte multilayer (see picture) of an electron-transfer protein (cytochrome c, red) and a copper enzyme (bilirubin oxidase, blue) has catalytic properties for four-electron oxygen reduction. The proposed architecture guarantees efficient protein-protein interaction without an additional redox mediator. (Figure Presented) © 2008 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.