Lecture One Flashcards
What are the key roles of metal ions in biology
signalling, regulation, sensing defence and structural support
What molecules are activated by metal ions
hydrogen, nitrogen, methane and carbon monoxide
what are metalloenzymes optimised for
selective uptake and catalytic activity
what research do metal ions provide a useful model for
- efficient collection, conversion and storage of energy
- catalytic activation of inert compounds under mild conditions
- efficient stereosynthesis
- detoxification of chemical compounds/elements
what does an ions abundance in an organism depend on
- abundance within the universe
- bioavailability
- availability in the past
how is the correct amount of an element for an organism quantified
dose-response diagrams
what does dose response for toxic elements depend on?
an individuals health, size and age
naturally occurring coordination partners for metal ions
- simple and complex phosphates(XPO3 2-)
- purely inorganic sulphides (S-)
- Water and its deprotonated forms (OH- and O2 -)
- bioligands: proteins, macrocyclic chelate ligands and nucleic acids
What are proteins and enzymes made from?
polypeptides, long chains of alpha amino acids joined by peptide bonds
How is complexation of proteins likely to occur?
R groups which provide specific complexation, the peptide backbone (C=O/N) can bind but these are often weak interactions
