Biological Inorganic Chemistry

Code:

Q3004

Acronym:

Q3004

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2020/2021 - 1S

Active?	No
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Chemistry

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	0	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	42	162
L:CC	0	Plano de estudos a partir de 2014	2	-	6	42	162
			3
L:F	0	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	42	162
			3
L:G	0	study plan from 2017/18	2	-	6	42	162
			3
L:M	0	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	42	162
			3
L:Q	0	study plan from 2016/17	3	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Understand the role of metal ions in biological systems at a molecular level and understanding the basic chemical principles that promote their reactivity. During all classes exemplas of the importance of bioinorganic chemistry in several fields (pharmacology, medicine, agriculture, metallurgy, veterinary, among others) will be given. This course is an introduction to bioinorganic chemistry, focusing on the role of metal ions in biological processes. The main goal of the course is to provide basic training in this interdisciplinary area by applying previous general knowledge in chemistry (coordination compounds, acid-base, redox, thermodynamics and kinetics) to selected cases in bioinorganic chemistry. The following topics will be studied: 1) Role of metals in biological systems: 2) Metalloenzymes with hydrolytic functions; 3) Metal proteins in electron transfer processes; 4) Role of metal ions in oxygen transport and activation; 5) Metals in medicine.

Learning outcomes and competences

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

 

Apply the basic principles in inorganic and general chemistry to interdisciplinary topics in the field of bioinorganic chemistry.

Describe the main roles of metal ions in biological processes, and identify the chemical properties that are required to each particular function.

Describe the role of metal ions in enzymes involved in acid-base reactions.

Describe the role of metal ions that are involved in electron-transfer reactions in biological systems.

Describe how oxygen is transported in different species and identify the metal centers involved in this task.

Describe the different metal-activation sites in enzymes that are involved in the activation of oxygen.

Identify the main toxicological mechanisms of metals and the biological defenses against the toxic effects.

List some medical applications of inorganic compounds.

Determine enzymatic activity using spectrophotometry and appropriate software to analyze experimental data (Excel).

Use experimental data to obtain information on the molecular structure of the metal center in metal proteins.

Extract some metal proteins from natural sources.

Oral and written communicate using the specific language of bioinorganic chemistry and common software (Word, Powerpoint).

 

 

Additionally, the student should have improve the following soft skills:

 

Teamwork.

Use of computers and common software for analysis and presentation of experimental data.

Use of web tools to find scientific data.

Written and oral communication.

 

Analysis and interpretation of data.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

The students should have successfully completed the general chemistry courses (including labs) and Inorganic Chemistry

Program

1. Distribution of elements: distribution of elements in the earth's cruts, seawater and organisms; biogeochemical cycling; inorganic elements in biological systems.


2. Acid-base reactions in biological systems and the functions of metal cations: types of acid-base reactions (revisions); acidity scale and acid character of metal ions; kinetic factors; enhancement of reaction by protein residues; magnesium-dependent enzymes; zinc-dependent enzymes; enzymes dependent on other metals.


3. Redox reactions: types of reactions in biological systems; reduction potential; heme proteins and enzymes; iron-sulfur proteins; copper proteins; molybdenum and tungsten proteins; examples od proteins involved in redox processes in biological systems.


4. Oxygen transport and activation: bonding in dioxygen and related species; reversible binding of oxygen: monooxygenases; dioxygenases.


5. Metal and Metalloids: an intruduction. Dysfunction of iron and copper homeostasis. Metals and metalloids in therapy.

Mandatory literature

R. R. Crichton; Biological inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-444-53782-9

Complementary Bibliography

E. Ochiai; Bioinorganic Chemistry, Elsevier, 2008. ISBN: 9780120887569
Dieter Rehder; Bioinorganic Chemistry, OUP, 2014. ISBN: 978-0-19-965519-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

Topics will be presented and discussed with the students, using case studies to reinforce and apply new concepts. The case studies will also be used to present some characterization techniques, and the students will practice analysis and interpretation of experimental data. In addition, the case studies will be used to train the student’s skills for web-based search, and oral/written communication. The course includes a laboratory part, where the students will learn how to extract, purify and characterize biomolecules.

keywords

Physical sciences > Chemistry > Inorganic chemistry
Physical sciences > Chemistry > Biochemistry

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Teste	60,00
Trabalho escrito	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	120,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

To be admitted to evaluation, the students must attend more than 3/4 of the classes

Calculation formula of final grade

The student will be approved if the final grade (NF) is equal or higher than 9.5. The evaluation will be done by the following components: - Five mini-tests during the semester. - 4 laboratory work with report- Participation in the class activities- Essay/Oral presentation. The final grade will be calculated using the following formula: NF= 0,6 x T + 0,2 x L + P + 0,1 x M, where T is teh average of the grades obtained in the mini-tests (0-20); L is the average of the grades obtained in the laboratory work (0-20)P is the grade for participation in class activities (0; 0,5; 1; 1,5 ou 2).M é the classification of the essay/oral presentation. In case the student fails to deliver any of the evaluation components, the grade used for the calculation is zero.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

If the student cannot attend classes, the grades for the work performed in class can be substituted by essays or other assignments. Please contact the professor.

Classification improvement

Students can retake 2 of the 4 evaluation tests in the normal exam period. To improve the grade of the other components the student must retake the full course in the following year.