[Globule size and the activation energy of an enzymatic process]

Abstract

The charge transfer reactions demand the polar medium reorganization the main part in the process energy being contributed by solvent reorganization. Protein globule excludes a part of the solvent from the interaction with the charge being transfered. Thus a strong decrease of the reorganization energy and hence of the activation energy is achieved (the gain of some kcal/mole). The effect rises at first rapidly with the globule radius but it becomes practically constant after some optimal radius is reached. The estimation of the optimal radius gives values of the order of magnitude of the enzymes molecule sizes.