Metals in Biology

Overview

Metals are the vital component of any biosystem. Starting from transporting biochemicals to catalyzing biochemical transformations, almost every process requires presence of a metal center. In order to understand these processes knowledge of specific functions carried out by these metals are necessary. This course will be helpful to understand the fundamental properties of the metals present in biosystems and mechanism of their action.INTENDED AUDIENCE : Chemistry, Biochemistry Students/facultyPREREQUISITES : Nil

Syllabus

Week 1:
Lecture 1: Introduction
Lecture 2,3: Distribution of metals in biology
Lecture 4,5: Metal storage in body
Week 2:
Lecture 6,7: Regulation of metal ion concentrations
Lecture 8,9 : Hydrolytic enzymes-Carbonic anhydrase & carbopeptidase
Lecture 10: Hydrolytic enzymes-Araginase and urease
Week 3:
Lecture 11: Oxygen transport proteins
Lecture 12,13,14: Dioxygen reactivity in copper
Lecture 15: Copper-oxygen chemistry
Week 4:
Lecture 16: Copper-oxygen chemistry and its mechanism
Lecture 17,18: Iron catalyzed oxidation
Lecture 19,20: Nitrous oxide reductase
Week 5:
Lecture 21,22: Cytochrome C oxidase
Lecture 23: Mononuclear nonheme iron (NHI) enzymes
Lecture 24: alpha-Keto Glutarate dependent Halogenase
Lecture 25: Cytochrome P450-Introduction
Week 6:
Lecture 26: Cytochrome P450-Part II-Reactions
Lecture 27,28: Cytochrome P450-Part III- Mechanism & Role of Cysteine ligand
Lecture 29,30: Methane monooxygenase
Week 7:
Lecture 31,32: Photosynthesis
Lecture 33,34: Photosynthesis & pumps - channels
Lecture 35: Protein involved in O2 transport
Week 8:
Lecture 36: Dioxygen reactivity in copper
Lecture 37,38: Dioxygen reactivity in iron