RESEARCH SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY IQB

Quantum Electron Transfer

Biological electron transfer between molecules based on quantum mechanical tunneling essentially has been involved in all important biological processes such as photosynthesis, cellular respiration, DNA repair, cellular homeostasis, and cell death. Specific electron transfer (ET) pathways encoded in protein structures determine the biological processes by providing low-lying electronic states via a superexchange-mediated mechanism through a tunnelling barrier. In particular, the electron was transferred from NADH to oxygen through a series of redox reactions of protein complexes I−IV by the electron transport chain (ETC). The ETC located in the inner membrane of mitochondria and took a key role for mitochondrial functions. Mitochondrial stress including DNA mutation or reactive oxygen species (ROS), can interfere the proper functioning of the protein complexes, involved in the ETC. Consequently, electron transport through these protein complexes is interfered, and led to a decrease in ETC activity, such as the proton flux, oxygen consumption, and ATP production. Thus, the interfering mitochondrial ETC by the stressed protein complexes is implicated in the pathogenesis of several major neurological diseases. Our research focuses on rejuvenating the dysfunctional mitochondria by enhancing the ETC activity to overcome all neuro degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.