Inorganic Biochemistry Laboratories

Recommended Prerequisites

Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Biochemistry of Proteins, Nucleic Acids and Lipids, and Inorganic Biochemistry (lectured in the same semester)

Teaching Methods

Laboratorial classes: students prepare and perform the experiments following the protocols, analyze and interpret the results, suggest other methods and strategies, present a report. Use of lab with uv-vis spectrophotometers and access to other required equipment. Project: students elaborate a protocol or discuss a theme, included in the field of this CU which is presented orally and as a monography. Parallel work sessions to analyze specific problems, discuss the themes of Project, clarify doubts (use of informatic device, programs and specific sites in the internet)

Learning Outcomes

This cu is a practical course devoted to complement basic preparative procedures previously learnt and acquire experience in lab work and techniques and to apply this knowledge to the study and comprehension of: inorganic properties of metal ions and their coordination capacity, stability of the complexes and their spectroscopic and magnetic properties; interaction of metal ions with biological molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and correlation with their respective in vivo function. It is expected that at the end of this curricular unit the student is able to: know the structure and reactivity of biomolecules; coordination properties, thermodynamic and kinetic stability, of metal complexes; use the experimental techniques, including spectroscopy, to structural characterization of the coordination compounds in biological systems; know the principles of bioinformatics with bibliographic search, reading and interpretation of scientific published papers.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Complexes of transition metals: synthesis, determination of stoichiometry, thermodynamic stability constant, spectroscopic and magnetic properties. Effect of several ligands and metal ions.

2. Interaction  metal ion/protein by vis/uv spectroscopy: analysis of d-d and charge transfer bands. Competition studies with different ions and ligands

3. Interaction of metal ion/nucleic acids: effect of alkali, earth-alkali and transition ions on the stability of double helix by vis/uv spectroscopy.

4. Interaction of metal ion/ lipids: effect on the stability, permeability and potential of membrane models

5.Metaloenzymes: effect of isomorphic substitution of the native ion on the enzymatic activity. Correlation with structural changes and inorganic properties of the ions. Use of on line molecular modelling programs.

6. Project: monography and oral presentation –theme included in this CU.

The works function simultaneously in all lab classes, executed rotatively by groups of 2 students.

Head Lecturer(s)

Ângelo José Ribeiro Tomé

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 40.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 60.0%

Assessment
Project: 20.0%
Exam: 40.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 40.0%

Bibliography

E.I. Ochiai, D.R. Williams (1999) Laboratory Introduction to Bioinorganic Chemistry, Macmillan P.

 

S.J. Lippard and J.M. Berg (1994) Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry, University Science Books, Mill Valley, Califórnia.

 

W. Kaim and B. Schwederski (1994) Bioinorganic Chemistry: Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life, Wiley, Chichester, U.K.

 

D.E. Fenton (1995) Biocoordination Chemistry, Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.

 

 W. Kaim (2005) Bioinorganic Chemistry, John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

 

J. Casas, V. Moreno, A. Sánchez, J. L. Sánchez, J. Sordo. Síntesis S.A. (2002) Química Bioinorgánica

 

 A.Cavaleiro (1999) Química Inorgânica Básica, Universidade de Aveiro ed., Aveiro, Portugal

 

Metal Ions in Biological Systems", H.Sigel Ed., Marcel Dekker, New York, 1974-1996, vols 1-presente.

 

Published papers in the Bioinorganic Chemistry area, mainly those involving studies of the inetraction of metal ions with relevant biological molecules using different spectroscopic techniques