KE810: Bioinorganic Chemistry

Students taking the course are expected to have a basic knowledge of physical, inorganic and organic chemistry, the structures of simple (bio)organic molecules, the formulations of simple metal salts, pH and some of the techniques (magnetic, vibrational and optical spectrosocopies and X-ray diffraction used to carry out structure determination).

Typically chemistry students take this course, however the subject is interdisciplinary and students from biology to physics and pharmacy will potentially be interested. Individual projects and hence the requirement of previous knowledge can be tailored accordingly.

The course provides background for students interested in biochemistry, materials, medicinal inorganic chemistry, enzymatic catalysis, structural chemistry and biotechnology

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in KE525 or equivalent. However there is a large degree of flexibility in terms of content that can be tailored to specific interests.
In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Give the competence to predict and understand the function of d-block (transition) metal ions in metalloenzymes and hence the chemical basis for healthy and disease states of living organisms, including humans.
• Understand influence of biology on the cycling of the biologically important elements C, H, N, S, P etc
• Use online resources like the Protein Data Bank and search, find and read primary literature

The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Understand typical roles and chemistry of the elements, in particular the metal ions, essential for living systems, e.g. structural, recognition, sensor roles and redox and non-redox catalytic roles.
• Rationalize the role of specific metal ions in metalloenzymes for catalyzing energetically and stereo- and enantio-selectively difficult reactions
• Assess the viability of the reaction mechanisms proposed for the biological activation of the small molecules through and comparisons to known chemistry of the elements.
• Describe basic principles in the use of optical, vibrational and magnetic resonance, Mössbauer spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, electrochemical and other selected methods for the characterization of biomolecular compounds containing any element of the periodic system
• Propose spectroscopic and other techniques appropriate for investigation of specific metalloenzymes.
• Read and understand primary research articles and critically evaluate the interpretation of data from a variety of techniques.
• Describe the interdependency of life forms and geology through the exchange of elements and chemicals and the impact of life on element cycling in the biosphere.
• Explain the potential for treatment of human disease through the thorough understanding and manipulation of genetically and environmentally caused elemental imbalances.
• Use free data bases in particular the Protein Data Bank for downloading crystal structure coordinates, analysing structure and preparing own diagrams

• The biological essential elements and their roles
• Homeostasis
• Genetic and environmental disease associated with elemental imbalance
• The structures of common motifs in the active sites of metalloenzymes
• Transport of O₂
• Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and their destruction
• The activation of O₂ by Fe, Cu and Mn enzymes for the selective oxidation reactions needed in the biosynthesis of amino acids, DNA, RNA, hormones etc.
• The activation of H₂O by Mo enzymes for selective oxidations
• The nitrogen cycle
• Metals as Lewis acids in the hydrolysis enzymes
• Bioorganometallic chemistry
• Reactions of small molecules CO, NO, H₂, etc with metalloenzymes
• The important cofactors in photosynthesis and hydrogenase enzymes and hence natures blue print for Artificial Photosynthesis
• Metals in Medicine
• Organic drugs and antibiotics as in vivo metal ion chelators
• Vitamins and minerals
• Radioisotope imaging and therapy (including visit to OUH PET center)
• Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI )
• Biomineralisation