Faculty of Science

Objectives

To expose students to the chemistry of metal compounds in biological systems involving such topics as cell and phosphate hydrolysis, electron transfer proteins, metalloenzymes and trace elements as well as oxygen transport and storage.

Contents

The cell and phosphate hydrolysis: all structures; chemical energy in cells; phosphate hydrolysis; Na+/K+ pumps and transport proteins; phosphate transfer and storage; The electron transfer proteins: oxidation-reduction reactions; electron carriers; cytochromes; iron-sulphur proteins; nitrogen fixation and the nitrogen cycle; photosynthesis and chlorophyll; Metalloenzymes and trace elements: zinc and copper metalloenzymes iron-requiring enzymes; cobalt and vitamin B12; other trace elements; trace elements in human nutrition; Oxygen transport and storage; Haem-containing proteins; haemoglobin, myoglobin; Non-haem proteins: haemocyanin, haemerythrin; Models for molecular oxygen binding.

Prerequisite: