Catalogo dei Corsi di studio

General expected learning outcomes
The aim of the Bioinorganic Chemistry course is to teach the role of inorganic elements in biological, environmental and pharmaceutical processes. This discipline employs tools and concepts borrowed from several areas, including chemical, physical, biological and medical relevance.

Specific expected learning outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding
Specific objectives are the description of the criteria of choice, accumulation, transport and storage of inorganic elements, in particular of metal ions, in organisms as well as the molecular description of the reaction mechanisms in which they participate in physio-pathological processes. In particular, several concepts will be described and discussed relating to: principles of coordination chemistry; selection, uptake, and assembly of units containing metals in biology; beneficial and toxic effects of inorganic elements, including Mercury, Chromium, Arsenic, Lead; structure and function of the heme unit; Iron and Copper properties in molecular oxygen transport proteins; role of the Zinc in hydrolytic enzymes, lyase and alcohol dehydrogenase; atom and electron transfer reactions; inorganic elements in radiopharmaceuticals; anticancer drugs containing Platinum, Gold, Ruthenium; toxic and therapeutic potential of small molecules (NO; CO; H2S).

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the student will be aware of the main roles performed by inorganic elements and metals in biology and medicine, in particular with respect to their catalytic function in redox and hydrolytic enzymes; transport and exchange of small molecules by the main prosthetic groups; communication between cells and tissues; control of the conformation and stability of polymers such as proteins and DNA; detoxification reactions of xenobiotics; treatment and diagnosis of various diseases.

3. Making judgements
The lectures will be interactive with questions and ideas aimed at stimulating attention, making links and critical considerations based on already acquired concepts and tools, re-elaborating in a clear and synthetic way the concepts learned and the material obtained from bibliographic research on international journals and specialized texts.

4. Communication skills
To this end, each student will develop a monographic theme and orally present it to others colleagues and any interested persons.

5. Learning skills
The student can study the topics covered in class by using the material made available by the teacher on the e-learning platform (slide, scientific articles and reviews) and by examining the textbooks suggested by the teacher (some copies are available at the Department library).

Programme

Introduction to Bioinorganic Chemistry. Presence, availability and functions of inorganic elements in living organisms. Essential elements in biology. Dose-response diagram. Principles of coordination chemistry. Thermodynamic aspects. Theory of hard and soft acids and bases. Chelation effect. Irvin-Williams series. pKa of metal-coordinated ligands. Ligand field theory. Kinetic aspects. Rate of exchange of ligands. Electron transfer reactions.
Biological ligands for metal ions. Coordination geometries and electronic structure of bio-inorganic complexes. Entatic state in enzymatic catalysis. Tetrapyrrole and macrocyclic ligands. Ionophores. Selection, absorption and organization of metal-containing units in biology. Natural and synthetic siderophores. Enrichment strategies. Control and use of metal ion concentrations in cells. Beneficial and toxic effects of metal ions. Regulation of a beneficial metal, iron. Transferrin. An example of a toxic metal, mercury. Generation and use of gradients of metal ion concentrations. Membrane potential. Pumps and ion channels. Acetylcholine receptor. Sodium channel. Activation of substrates by nonredox mechanisms.
Carboxypeptidase A and Thermolysin. Mechanism of action of alkaline phosphatase. Example of lyase: carbonic anhydrase. Example of oxidoreductase: alcohol dehydrogenase. Oxygen transport: hemoglobin and myoglobin. Reactions of transfer of oxygen atom. Monooxygenase. Cytochrome P-450. Tyrosinase. Methane oxygenase. Model systems. Metal protective enzymes: Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase. Catalysis. Peroxidase. Iron storage mechanisms. Ferritin and hemosiderin. cis-Platinum; Platinum-Rhodium bimetallic complexes; Platinum complexes (IV). Cobalamines: organometallic complexes that encapsulate Cobalt. Advanced mass spectrometric techniques for the study of bioinorganic species. Metal ions in radiopharmaceuticals: selection and production of radionuclides for applications in diagnostics and therapy. Therapeutic agents containing gold.

Adopted texts

W. Kaim, B. Schwederski, A. Klein "Bioinorganic Chemistry: Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life
Second edition, Wiley
2) I. Bertini, H. G. Gray, E. I. Stiefel, J. S. Valentine. "Biological Inorganic Chemistry. Structure and Reactivity"
University Science Books

Bibliography

1) O. W. L. Carter, Y. Xu, P. J. Sadler "Minerals in Biology and Medicine" RSC Adv. 2021, 11, 1939. 2) S. K. Nandanwar, H. J. Kim "Anticancer and Antibacterial Activity of Transition Metal Complexes" ChemistrySelect 2019, 4, 1706.

Prerequisites

A basic knowledge of the main concepts learned during the courses of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology and Biochemistry is recommended. There are no prerequisites.

Study modes

The course includes lessons relating to the topics listed in the program; analysis and discussion of recent scientific publications on Bioinorganic Chemistry on topics proposed by the teacher; in-depth study of "state of art" instrumental techniques for the study of Bioinorganic Chemistry. The learning material (slides presented during classes and scientific articles discussed) is available on the e-learning page of the course: https://elearning.uniroma1.it/course/view.php?id=905 At that link, the student can also find: the program of the course and the recommended textbooks, office hours, lesson time, and the links on the Meet platform for the Monday lesson (meet.google.com/zfd-mrme-weq) and the Wednesday one (meet.google.com/cux-sjtg- nmc).

Frequency modes

Attendance at the course is recommended.

Exam modes

The final exam consists in the preparation, presentation of a ppt document and discussion of a topic chosen by the student from recent scientific literature.

Exam reservation date start	Exam reservation date end	Exam date
08/01/2023	07/02/2023	10/02/2023
01/03/2022	02/04/2023	04/04/2023
15/05/2023	13/06/2023	15/06/2023
01/06/2023	02/07/2023	04/07/2023
05/08/2023	05/09/2023	07/09/2023
02/10/2023	03/11/2023	05/11/2023
15/12/2023	16/01/2024	18/01/2024

Programme

Introduction to Bioinorganic Chemistry. Presence, availability and functions of inorganic elements in living organisms. Essential elements in biology. Dose-response diagram. Principles of coordination chemistry. Thermodynamic aspects. Theory of hard and soft acids and bases. Chelation effect. Irvin-Williams series. pKa of metal-coordinated ligands. Ligand field theory. Kinetic aspects. Rate of exchange of ligands. Electron transfer reactions.
Biological ligands for metal ions. Coordination geometries and electronic structure of bio-inorganic complexes. Entatic state in enzymatic catalysis. Tetrapyrrole and macrocyclic ligands. Ionophores. Selection, absorption and organization of metal-containing units in biology. Natural and synthetic siderophores. Enrichment strategies. Control and use of metal ion concentrations in cells. Beneficial and toxic effects of metal ions. Regulation of a beneficial metal, iron. Transferrin. An example of a toxic metal, mercury. Generation and use of gradients of metal ion concentrations. Membrane potential. Pumps and ion channels. Acetylcholine receptor. Sodium channel. Activation of substrates by nonredox mechanisms.
Carboxypeptidase A and Thermolysin. Mechanism of action of alkaline phosphatase. Example of lyase: carbonic anhydrase. Example of oxidoreductase: alcohol dehydrogenase. Oxygen transport: hemoglobin and myoglobin. Reactions of transfer of oxygen atom. Monooxygenase. Cytochrome P-450. Tyrosinase. Methane oxygenase. Model systems. Metal protective enzymes: Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase. Catalysis. Peroxidase. Iron storage mechanisms. Ferritin and hemosiderin. cis-Platinum; Platinum-Rhodium bimetallic complexes; Platinum complexes (IV). Cobalamines: organometallic complexes that encapsulate Cobalt. Advanced mass spectrometric techniques for the study of bioinorganic species. Metal ions in radiopharmaceuticals: selection and production of radionuclides for applications in diagnostics and therapy. Therapeutic agents containing gold.

Adopted texts

1) W. Kaim, B. Schwederski, A. Klein. "Bioinorganic Chemistry: Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life
Second edition, Wiley
2) I. Bertini, H. G. Gray, E. I. Stiefel, J. S. Valentine. "Biological Inorganic Chemistry. Structure and Reactivity"
University Science Books

Prerequisites

A basic knowledge of the main concepts learned during the courses of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology and Biochemistry is recommended.

Study modes

The course includes lessons relating to the topics listed in the program; analysis and discussion of recent scientific publications on Bioinorganic Chemistry on topics proposed by the teacher; in-depth study of "state of art" instrumental techniques for the study of Bioinorganic Chemistry. The learning material (slides presented during classes and scientific articles discussed) is available on the e-learning page of the course: https://elearning.uniroma1.it/course/view.php?id=905 At that link, the student can also find: the program of the course and the recommended textbooks, office hours, lesson time, and the links for the lessons.

Frequency modes

Attendance at the course is recommended.

Exam modes

The final exam consists in the preparation, presentation of a ppt document and discussion of a topic chosen by the student from recent scientific literature.