Course

Unit I

Basics in Bio-Inorganic ChemistryEssential elements in biological systems, transport of ions across biological membranes, active and passive transport, metal transport and metallochaperons, Na+/K+ pump and active transport. Metal complexation with biological molecules. Electron transport in biology, electron transport chain (ETC), role of ETC in biological systems. Amino acids, peptides and proteins, primary and secondary structure of proteins, ?-helix and ?-sheets forms of proteins and their special features; tertiary and quaternary structures of proteins the type of molecular interactions involved in them. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generation and function of organic free radicals, action of ROS in biological systems, oxidative stress, antioxidants. Photosynthesis, PS-I and PSII.

Unit II

Oxygen Take-Up, Transport and Storage ProteinsPorphine, corrin, corrole, chlorin and bacteriochlorin. Myoglobin (Mb) and haemoglobin (Hb), their prosthetic groups and functions, mechanism for reversible binding of O2 in Mb and Hb. Cooperative effect in Hb and its consequence. Behaviour of bound O2 to Fe(II). Difference between O2 and CO binding to Hb and Mb, CN? poisoning. Structure and functions of haemerythrin (Hr) and haemocyanin (Hc), O2 binding nature in Hr and Hc, electron transfer processes in them. Cytochromes and their role in biology, cytochrome P-450, cytochrome C-oxidase and oxygen transfer from O2 to non-activated substrates, monooxygenases, methane monooxygenase (MMO). Fe-S and other non-haeme iron proteins, ferredoxins-their structure and special properties, transferrin, ferritin, siderophores, enterobactin, uptake, transport and storage of iron. Sickle-cell anaemia.

Unit III

Metallo-EnzymesCatalases structure and properties reaction mechanism. Peroxidases- glutathione peroxidase, HRP, structure and properties and enzyme reaction mechanism. Cytochrome c peroxidase and lignin peroxidase. Copper enzymes-structure and function, azurin, plastocyanin. Type I, II and III copper proteins. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) – structure and enzymatic reaction mechanisms. Tyrosinase, reaction mechanism. Zn-containing enzymes, carbonic anhydrase and carboxy-peptidases-structure and enzymatic reactions. N2 fixation, nitrogenase enzyme, Fe-S clusters, Fe-protein structure, Mo-Fe protein structure, P-cluster and M-centre, their model compounds.

Unit IV

Other Functional Roles of Metal IonsZn in biological systems, Zn-finger proteins structural features and properties, classifications and their roles in biological systems. Ca2+ binding proteins, calmodulins. Metal ion based (Pt, V, Au) drugs, anticancer agents. Cis-platin and its properties. Chelation therapy, macrocyclic antibiotics. Role of Mn, Ni, Mo and Cr in biological systems, metal toxicity and homeostasis, therapeutic complexes. Diseases caused by both excess and deficiency of metal ions, thalassaemia, Wilson disease. DNA intercalators, diagnostic agents, MRI imaging and contrast agents, the role of Gd3+ and other metal ions as contrast agents.

Unit V

Biomimetic Compounds, Metals in MedicinePorphyrins (H2P) and metalloporphyrins (MP), spectral, fluorescence and redox properties of H2P and MP. Biomimetic compounds. Fe(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) based model compounds model compounds of Mb and Hc .picket-fence porphyrin and its special features. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), principles and applications. Natural and synthetic ionophores, crown ethers, interaction and uptake of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal ions with crown ethers, cryptands and cryptates, calixarenes and their special properties, cyclo-dextrins and their special properties.

TEXTBOOKS1.J.E. Huheey, R.A. Keiter, R.L. Keiter, Inorganic Chemistry-Principles of Structure and Reactivity, 4th Edn., Prentice Hall, 1997.2.F.A. Cotton, G. Wilkinson, C.A. Murillo, M. Bochmann, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 6th Edn., Wiley- Interscience, 1999.3.P. Atkins, T. Overton, J. Rourke, M. Weller, F. Armstrong, Shriver and Atkins Inorganic Chemistry, 4th Edn., Oxford University Press, 2006.REFERENCES1.S. J. Lippard, J. M. Berg, Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry, University Science Books, 1994.2.J. D. Atwood, Inorganic and Organometallic Reaction Mechanism, 2nd Edn., Wiley-VCH, 1997.3.B.E. Douglas, D.H. McDaniel, J. J. Alexander, Concepts and Models of Inorganic Chemistry, 3rd Edn., Wiley-India, 2007.4.W. Kaim, B. Schwederski, Bioinorganic Chemistry: Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life, John Wiley & Sons, 1994.5.M. N. Hughes, The Inorganic Chemistry in Biological Processes, Wiley (1981)