Figure 12. This is a hot and cold spot map for protein
electron transfer reactions. Each sphere
represents one of the amino acids in the protein
cytochrome b5. The map shows amino acids strongly
(red) and weakly (blue) coupled to the active
group in the protein. This map, developed using
the "tunneling pathway model," developed with
Federal support, set the standard by which all
electron transfer proteins are analyzed.
The tunneling pathway model is used by many industrial
and academic groups to custom design proteins for
catalysis and to determine the mechanisms of
naturally occurring biocatalytic processes.
(Used with permission of Dr. David Beratan, University
of Pittsburgh)