The course aims to study the role of metals in biological systems. In particular, starting from the deepening of topics of inorganic chemistry partially introduced in previous courses, with particular regard to the chemistry of metal compounds, students are given the tools to understand the interaction of metal ions with biological macromolecules and the mechanisms of action of some classes of metal proteins and metal enzymes of greatest biological interest.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of chemistry provided in the General and Inorganic Chemistry course in the first year of the bachelor degree in Biotechnology.
Teaching Methods
Interactive lectures carried out through the projection of slides and handouts provided to students as teaching material, and insights on the blackboard. The course does not include practical laboratory exercises.
Assessment Methods
Oral examination in which the student will have to demonstrate knowledge of the topics covered during the lessons, including in particular the construction of the molecular orbitals and the description of the metal sites of metalloproteins and of the catalytic cycles of enzymes.
Texts
Le dispense sono inserite in KIRO.
Contents
The topics covered in the course are as follows: electrons, elements of quantum mechanics; atoms, atomic orbitals and periodic properties; molecules, chemical bond and molecular orbitals; chemistry of coordination compounds: stability, isomerism, ligand field stabilization energy, magnetic properties, kinetics and reaction mechanisms; binding of oxygen and other small molecules to metals;biogeochemical cycles of metals and nitrogen; interaction of metal ions with nucleic bases/nucleotides/DNA, antitumor activity of platinum compounds; proteins: structure and function; metalloproteins and metalloenzymes, classification and functions; electron spectroscopy and natural chromophores, complexes with macrocyclic ligands (vitamin B12, chlorophyll, heme group); electron transport proteins; oxygen transport proteins; enzymes containing heme iron, not-heme iron and copper centers.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Up to 2 hours of reception per week (also online) with flexibility according to needs, support through tutoring/supplementary teaching, and video recordings of specific lessons including exam simulations will be guaranteed for students who cannot follow the teaching activities face-to-face because they are in one of the following (certified) conditions: working student, student engaged in the care of his family members, student with civil or specific learning disabilities, parent student, athlete student, student in prison, student in temporary hospitalization or suffering from certified pathologies.
