LKEF10102U The Chemistry of Metal Ions in Biological Systems

Volume 2013/2014
Content

The central purpose is to illustrate how metal ions are essential for life. Their function can range from the simple charge balance and structural role to the complex roles in which they transfer electrons, break bonds, make bonds or control biochemical reactions.
This course deals with the chemical reactivity and function of metal ions in biological systems. This field of research (also called bioinorganic chemistry or biological inorganic chemistry) is a relatively new interdisciplinary field, which have connections to biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, biology, biophysics, pharmacology, toxicology and nanotechnology.

The course content is dynamic and will reflect the current hot topics/new discoveries in bioinorganic chemistry. The course will contain selections of the following subjects:
Biological trace elements, and their abundance and bioavailability.
The coordination chemistry of metal ions and bioinorganic model systems.
Biological metal ion transport mechanisms (uptake, storage and metallochaperones). Metabolism of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Metal ion and metal ion complexes’ interaction with nucleic acids. Metal ions in diseases, health and medicine. Biological ultratrace elements.
The coordination chemistry of biological dioxygen transport.
Dioxygen activating iron enzymes such as heme containing (cytochrome P450s), mononuclear iron enzymes (2His-1carboxylate facial triad enzymes) di-iron enzymes (methane monooxygenase).
Dioxygen activating copper enzymes (monooxygenases, multi-copper oxidases). zink (hydrolytic enzymes), molybdenum (sulfite oxidase) and nickel (urease, NiFe hydrogenase) metallo-enzymology. Other enzymes in oxygen metabolism such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidases and catalase. Nitrogenase and biological dinitrogen fixation.
Metalloproteins in biological electron transfer (photosynthesis, respiration and redoxenzymes) and the physical nature of electron transfer. Bioinorganic chemistry in biotechnology, environmental context and in biocatalysis.
Introduction to the theory behind experimental techniques used for studying metal ions in biological systems. Examples of such techniques are mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), circular dichroism (CD), Perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, Resonance Raman, X-ray absorption spectroscopies.

 
Learning Outcome

The objective of this course is to give the students a thorough introduction to the function of metal ions in biological systems and make the students able to analyze the structure and function of metal ion containing biomolecules.

After the end of this course the students should be able to:

Knowledge
Describe the different function metal ions can have in biological systems

Provide an overview over metalloproteins function in biological systems

Provide an overview of biological selection of biological important metal ions.

Have theoretical insight into which spectroscopic techniques or other methods that are appropriate for investigating a specific metalloprotein.

Discuss why too high and too low concentrations of trace elements can be harmful to living organisms

Skills
Be able to find and read primary scientific articles within the field and explain the content.

Communicate clearly written and orally issues of bioinorganic chemistry

Describe the function of metalloenzymes on a molecular basis

Competences
Critically evaluate the data presented in scientific articles.

Suggest the possible function of a particular transition metal ion in a biological molecule when presented with structural information about its coordination environment.

Predict whether an enzyme catalysed reaction is likely to involve metal ions and in the positive case, what metal ions are likely.


Literature

Bertini, Gray, Stiefel & Valentine Biological Inorganic Chemistry – Structure & Reactivity, University Science Books, USA, 2007 + notes and articles.

Basic courses in chemistry and biochemistry at the respective faculties.
Course in chemistry like: General Chemistry for Life Sciences( LKEA10108)
Organic Chemistry for Life Sciences- LKEA10109, Basic inorganic and biological chemistry.
Courses in biochemistry like Biochemistry 1 - LKEB10077, Chemistry of Macromolecules, Cofactors and Metal Ions in Biological Systems - LKEF10083 is a suggested prerequisite.
Lectures, individual work on a project with the possibility of study groups, presentation and discussion of articles, instrument demonstrations, and theoretical exercises.
The course is an inter-faculty course with teachers from SUND(1 week), SCIENCE(6 week). One week will be reserved for project work. Teaching will be on Frederiksberg and Nørre Campus
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 15
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 105
  • Project work
  • 40
  • Theory exercises
  • 15
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination under invigilation
Evaluation of project report made throughout the course with individual oral presentation and examination.
Exam registration requirements
Presentation and critique of an article in journal club sessions. Delivery of an individual project report prior to the final examination.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
See Learning Outcome