Biological Inorganic Chemistry

Code:

Q3004

Acronym:

Q3004

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2022/2023 - 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	study plan from 2021/22	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 addressed: 1) Role of metals in biological systems; 2) Molecular and structural biology for chemists; 3) Metalloproteins and Metalloenzymes with hydrolytic and electronic transfer functions; 4) Metals in the brain and neurodegenerative diseases; 5) Metals in medicine and in the discovery of new drugs.

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. Molecular and structural biology for chemists


2. Methods to study metals in biological systems. Assimilation, transport and storage of metal ions. 


3. 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.


4. 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.


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


6. Metals in the brain and neurodegenerative diseases


7. 
   

   Metals in medicine and in the discovery of new drugs

   
   

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 (%)
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Exame	60,00
Prova oral	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 1/4 of the classes

Calculation formula of final grade

The student is approved to the curricular unit if his/her final grade (NF) is 9.5 or higher. The evaluation will be carried out through the following components: - three mini-tests - Participation in the activities of the classes - Monograph/oral presentation, examination. The final score is calculated by the following formula: NF= 0.6 x E + 0.2 x MT + 0.2 x AO in which E is the final exam, MT is the average of the classifications obtained in the mini-tests (0-20); and AO is the classification obtained in the activities of the classes monograph/oral presentation. In the event that a student does not perform any of the assessments, the rating to that component will be zero.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Working students or other students that cannot attend classes (must be proven) have to do all the evaluation components. The schedule for each evaluation component can be different, if desired, but in this case the student must reach an agreement with the professor.

Classification improvement

Given the continuous evaluation character, the classification improvement can only be made to the written examination.