Enzymes and Models. In: XAFS Techniques for Catalysts, Nanomaterials, and Surfaces
Many important redox-active metalloenzymes consist of 3d transition metals in their active sites. They catalyze multi-electron reactions in aqueous solution, under ambient temperature and pressure. To understand the functionality of the catalytic sites of these enzymes, X-ray spectroscopy methods provide important information of the electronic structure of the metal of interest and its local structural information, as well as their changes during the catalysis. Studying model compounds, that mimic enzyme catalytic site structures or their functional mimics, is as critical as studying enzymes themselves, in order to interpret X-ray spectroscopic data. In this chapter, various X-ray spectroscopic methods that are useful for structural and electronic structural studies of enzymes and model compounds are described.