Bio-inorganic Chemistry

Intitulé de l’enseignement Code UE Crédits
Bio-inorganic chemistry
 CHIM-M1-C27-S1  4 ECTS
Niveau: M1
Semestre: S1
Duration: 32h

 

Course description and content
Metal ions play an essential role in biology, and this course aims to outline the main physicochemical parameters of metal ions that are involved in fundamental biological processes. The essentials of coordination chemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, will be discussed with a particular focus on the use of metal ions in biological systems. The course will address how metal ions are detected and how their speciation (i.e. the molecular nature of the metal ions, e.g. soluble complexes or solids) can be explored. Questions relating to the bioavailability of metal ions will be discussed, notably in relation to the ‘Great Oxidation Event’ at the origin of life, as well as events of biomineralization. Metal ions are a precious resource, and competition for them occurs in various pathological contexts, such as infection or cancer.

Metal ions are also important in everyday modern life, and this will be discussed in relation to the environment with some examples.

Overall, this lecture provides an opportunity to revisit one’s knowledge of inorganic chemistry in the context of biological and natural environments.

Outine

Part A
ChapA1: Metals in biological systems
ChapA2: Coordination chemistry essentials for bioinorganic chemistry
ChapA3: Metal ions at the origin of Life
ChapA4: Two cases studies: Hg and Cu
[ChapA5: Oxidative stress] not always given

Part B
ChapB1: Metal ions: detection
ChapB2: Metal, rare elements
Chap B3: Bioaccumulation and biomineralization

Learning goals
By the end of this UE, each student should be able to: -outline and explain the specific physico-chemical parameters of metal ions important in their interaction with biological systems -mobilize thermodynamics and kinetics concepts in the case of metal ions in the intricate biological environments -outline how metal ions can be characterized in biological system (detection, imaging, determination of the speciation, direct or indirect measurements) -outline the mechanisms of metal accumulation and detoxification strategies -describe the battle for metal ions at the individual level, and between individuals of the same or different species -read and provide a critical analysis of a scientific article.