Physics of enzymatic catalysis and disclosure of the role of proton transitions

Contemporary theory of the charge transfer processes (encompassing electron and/or proton translocations) is represented in this review. There are explained the quantum and classical degrees of freedom in these processes. The totally adiabatic, totally non-adiabatic and partially adiabatic processes are analyzed in terms of the electron and proton transfer mechanism. In totally non-adiabatic processes proton and/or electron translocation take place via the under barrier (tunneling) transfer through the “quantum” degrees of freedom, whereas in the case of totally adiabatic processes (in cases where “quantum” barriers are entirely depleted), the only barriers to be surmounted are due to the system’s “classical” degrees of freedom. The medium’s reorganization, which, always accompanies the charge exchange process in reaction, consistently participates as the classical degrees of freedom. The results of some experimental work are also represented in this review, that prove the proton quantum tunneling phenomenon in biomolecular processes.