BIOINORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: GRAZIELLA VECCHIOExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
Knowledge of the basic aspects of the chemistry of the elements of the periodic table in biological systems. Understanding the role of biometals and the applications of this knowledge in the biomedical field.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding:
Ability to apply acquired knowledge of inorganic systems to articulate and support arguments related to the topics covered in the course and their practical applications, with particular reference to biological systems.
Solve chemical problems of varying complexity, as well as develop scientific projects.
Making judgements:
Ability to rationalize the behavior of bioinorganic systems based on acquired knowledge.
Ability to find and discuss literature sources in order to develop critical thinking about current ethical and scientific issues.
Communication Skills:
Acquire appropriate language skills in describing aspects of bioinorganic chemistry and chemistry in general.
Interact with other research groups, with interdisciplinary skills relevant to bioinorganic chemistry.
Learning Skills:
Develop the necessary skills for further studies, in-depth analysis, and updates of the acquired knowledge in the field of inorganic chemistry of biological systems, closely related to topics of interest such as environment and health.
Course Structure
The course consists of 6 ECTS credits of theoretical lectures.
Frontal lectures supported by the use of websites that allow dynamic visualization of metalloproteins.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Course Introduction. Basic Concepts.
Iron transport in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Iron storage proteins.
Heme-iron systems. Hemoglobin and Myoglobin. Cytochromes – structure and functions. Camphor Cytochrome P-450.
Iron-sulfur cluster systems. Redox potentials and structure. Examples of electron transfer systems. Nitrogenase.
Non-heme iron proteins. Mononuclear systems. Binuclear systems: ribonucleotide reductase and monooxygenase protein complexes (MMO). Hemerythrin.
Copper transport in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Copper chaperones. Diseases related to copper transport proteins. Copper proteins. Classification, structure, and function of blue copper proteins. Hemocyanin.
Zinc transport in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Zinc systems.
Protein systems with other transition metals and their roles.
Role of s-block metals in biological systems.
Systems involved in photosynthesis.
Toxic metals. Chelation therapy.
Coordination compounds as therapeutic and diagnostic agents.
This course may be offered in an "English-friendly" format. The course will be taught in Italian, but students participating in an international mobility program will be supported with English-language teaching materials . Exams may be taken in English. The "English-friendly" format will be adopted upon request by students participating in an international mobility program.
Textbook Information
Course materials will be available during the lessons.
R.R. Crichton Biological inorganic chemistry
W. Kaim, B. Schwederski, A. Klein Bioinorganic Chemistry -- Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life: An Introduction and Guide, 2nd Edition Wiley 2013
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summary of inorganic chemistry | R.R. Crichton Biological inorganic chemistry |
| 2 | Iron homeostasis and in bacteria and eukarya | R.R. Crichton Biological inorganic chemistry |
| 3 | Structure of iron proteins. Fe-S cluster, heme and non heme systems. | W. Kaim, B. Schwederski, A. Klein Bioinorganic Chemistry -- Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life: An Introduction and Guide, 2nd Edition Wiley |
| 4 | Zinc homeostasis | R.R. Crichton Biological inorganic chemistry |
| 5 | Diseases related to metal dishomeostasis | R.R. Crichton Biological inorganic chemistry Elsevier 2018 |
| 6 | Ionophore and metal chelators as therapeutics | R.R. Crichton Biological inorganic chemistry Elsevier 2018 |
| 7 | Toxic metals | R.R. Crichton Biological inorganic chemistry Elsevier 2018 |
| 8 | Coordination compounds as therapeutics | W. Kaim, B. Schwederski, A. Klein Bioinorganic Chemistry -- Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life: An Introduction and Guide, 2nd Edition Wiley |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The final exam consists of an oral test, the evaluation of which will take into account the knowledge of the topics asked, the language properties and the critical ability in formulating the answers.
Grade 30 with honors: The student demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of all the topics covered, showing a fully developed ability to critically correlate various aspects, along with excellent communication skills and language proficiency.
Grade 27–28: The student demonstrates a good knowledge of all the topics covered and presents them clearly using appropriate language.
Grade 25–26: The student has a fair knowledge of all the topics covered, is able to integrate and analyze information with sufficient critical thinking, and expresses themselves more than adequately.
Grade 24–25: The student has a more than sufficient knowledge of all the topics covered, is able to integrate and analyze content with sufficient critical thinking, and expresses themselves more than adequately.
Grade 18–22: The student has a sufficient knowledge of all the topics covered, shows limited ability to critically relate the relevant chemical aspects, and presents topics with acceptable clarity, although language proficiency is poorly developed.
Exam not passed: The student does not demonstrate the minimum required knowledge of the course’s basic content. Their ability to use specific terminology is extremely poor, and they are unable to independently apply the knowledge acquired.