Electrostatic complexation and photoinduced electron transfer between Zn-cytochrome c and polyanionic fullerene dendrimers

Two dendritic fullerene (DF) monoadducts, 2 and 3, which can carry up to 9 and 18 negative charges, respectively, were examined with respect to electrostatic complexation with Cytochromec (Cytc). To facilitate comprehensive photophysical investigations, the zinc analogue of Cytc (ZnCytc) was prepared according to a novel, modified procedure. The association of ZnCytc and DF, and consequential photoinduced electron transfer within ZnCytc-DF from the photoexcited protein to the fullerene. was proven by fluorescence spectroscopy and transient absorption spectroscopy These findings were also supported by circular dichroism as well as by extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.