Ligand discrimination of myoglobin in solution: an iron L-edge X-ray absorption study of the active centre

Abstract

Iron L-edge X-ray absorption spectra of the active centre of myoglobin in the met-form, in the reduced form and upon ligation to O₂, CO, NO and CN are presented. The strength of ligation with the iron centre is finger-printed through the variation of the L₃ : L₂ intensity ratio. Charge Transfer Multiplet calculations are performed and give qualitative information about oxidation states as well as charge transfer.