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Iron Biology: Metabolism and its Regulation
| Code: | OPT2_16 | Acronym: | BFMR |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Keyword |
| OFICIAL | Medicine |
Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S (of 16-09-2024 to 10-01-2025) 
| Active? | Yes |
| Responsible unit: | Chemistry |
| Course/CS Responsible: | Integrated Masters Degree in Medicine |
Cycles of Study/Courses
| Acronym | No. of Students | Study Plan | Curricular Years | Credits UCN | Credits ECTS | Contact hours | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIM | 20 | Official Study Plan | 2 | - | 3 | 28 | 81 |
Teaching Staff - Responsibilities
| Teacher | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Maria da Conceição Santos Silva Rangel Gonçalves | |
| Maria da Graça Beça Gonçalves Porto |
Teaching - Hours
| Theoretical and practical : | 1,43 |
| Laboratory Practice: | 0,57 |
| Type | Teacher | Classes | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theoretical and practical | Totals | 1 | 1,429 |
| André Moreira Neto da Silva | 0,143 | ||
| Maria da Graça Beça Gonçalves Porto | 0,714 | ||
| Maria da Conceição Santos Silva Rangel Gonçalves | 0,572 | ||
| Laboratory Practice | Totals | 1 | 0,572 |
| André Moreira Neto da Silva | 0,286 | ||
| Maria da Graça Beça Gonçalves Porto | 0,286 |
Teaching language
Suitable for English-speaking studentsObjectives
Iron is an essential element for all living organisms. The element intervenes in several metabolic processes such as oxygen transport, electron transport chains and DNA synthesis. Despite being essential iron can also be toxic since catalyses production of oxygen and nitrogen radical species. Consequently, maintenance of Fe homeostasis is crucial for life and health and perturbation of this equilibrium has consequences in the physiopathology and clinical evolution of a significant number of diseases in all medical areas.
In this UC we will provide an overview of the role of iron that will integrate several fields of knowledge such as bioinorganic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cellular genetics, physiopathology and immunology. Examples of several diseases associated with iron will be presented and discussed from the molecular and clinical points of view.
Learning outcomes and competences
Upon frequency of the UC the student is expected to understand the mechanisms of iron uptake and iron regulation as well as envisage the implications that a lack of iron homeostasis and iron regulation may have in human health. Moreover, the student should also be able to hypothesize a possible implication of iron in the etiology uncommon and/or unknown diseases.
Working method
PresencialProgram
- Chemistry: (a) Fe biogeochemical cycle; (b) Fe species and coordination chemistry concepts; (c) stability and reactivity of Fe species; (d) measurement and imaging of Fe; (e) toxicity.
- Structure and function of Fe metalloproteins: (a) storage and transport of Fe; (b) storage and transport of oxygen; (c) electron transfer processes; (d) Fe-Sulfur centres.
- Systemic regulation of Fe metabolism (Fe cycle): (a) duodenal absorption; (b) a macrophage recycling; (c) Fe species in serum ; (d) storage and utilization.
- Regulation of Fe metabolism at a molecular level: (a) regulation in the cell; (b) role of hepcidin and ferroportin; (c) regulation by anemia anf hypoxia regulation; (d) regulation by inflammation.
- Diseases related with Fe deficiency and Iron overload: (a) anemia (b) hemochromatosis and other Iron overload pathologies; (d) neurodegenerative diseases; (e) infection; (f) cancer.
- Therapeutics (a) Fe deficiency (b) Fe overload
Mandatory literature
Robert R. Crichton; Biological Inorganic Chemistry An Introduction, Elsevier, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-444-52740-0Teaching methods and learning activities
The course will be initiated with the presentation by several Case Studies that demonstrate the importance of the theme and its different topics and that provide evidence for the concepts and tools necessary to study Iron biology. The theoretical background will be presented first by the lecturer and the topics will be thoroughly discussed in subsequent classes.
Journal Club sessions are organized in order to allow the reading and comprehension of scientific articles. A set of papers is given to the students for reading, comprehension and discussions. We organize a session for each paper in which the students deliver an oral presentation followed by a deep discussion of the paper between students, authors of the paper which are invited for the session and the teachers. Since many of the authors are abroad many sessions will be pursued by videoconference.
The students are encouraged to perform a literature search and suggest a particular paper for the Journal Club.
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation with final examAssessment Components
| Designation | Weight (%) |
|---|---|
| Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico | 35,00 |
| Teste | 65,00 |
| Total: | 100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
| Designation | Time (hours) |
|---|---|
| Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico | 6,00 |
| Estudo autónomo | 47,00 |
| Frequência das aulas | 28,00 |
| Total: | 81,00 |
Eligibility for exams
Not aplicableCalculation formula of final grade
The evaluation has two components.
Component 1. analysis, presentation and discussion of scientific papers.
Component 2 : test regarding the taght subjects
Final grade is calculated according to the formula:
Final grade = (0.45 x grade component 1)+(0.55 x grade component 2)
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Page created on: 2025-06-23 at 11:05:44 | Acceptable Use Policy | Data Protection Policy | Complaint Portal
Page created on: 2025-06-23 at 11:05:44 | Acceptable Use Policy | Data Protection Policy | Complaint Portal