Vår 2016

KJE-8201 Bioinorganic chemistry - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for kjemi

Type of course

Theoretical subject. The course is available as an elective independent of study program, and also to exchange students. The course is offered on condition that there is a minimum number of registered students.

Course overlap

K-321 Bioinorganic chemistry 10 stp

Course contents

The course content is similar to that of KJE-3201 but the student will be expected to possess a deeper level of mechanistic knowledge relative to KJE-3201. The course will present a mechanistic perspective of the role of metals and metalloids in biology. After a short introduction to metal ion storage, transport, and homeostasis, the course will progress to a detailed discussion of redox metalloenzymes, particularly dioxygen metabolism. Early discussions will focus on dioxygen transport (myoglobin, hemoglobin, hemerythrin, hemocyanin), superoxide metabolism (superoxide dismutase and superoxide reductase), enzymes utilizing peroxide (peroxidases and catalases), dioxygen-activating enzymes (monooxygenases and dioxygenases), and cytochrome P450. Subsequent topics for discussion will include selected redox cofactors, particularly those present in various copper proteins, cytochromes b and c, iron-sulfur clusters, cobalamins, and molybdenum cofactors. Particular emphasis will be placed throughout on electronic-structural and mechanistic insights afforded by synthetic model systems. The course will conclude with a discussion of special topics, which will vary from year to year, depending on the interests of course participants and on recent happenings in the field. Examples of such topics include NO biology, arsenic toxicity, metallodrugs such as platinum anticancer drugs and technetium radiopharmaceuticals, aspects of the origin of life, etc.

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester. Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Admission requirements

To take PhD courses you need to have at least a master's degree or equivalent.

In addition the following knowledge is required: A thorough knowledge of elementary university-level organic and inorganic chemistry, corresponding to a grade of B or better in KJE-1002 and KJE-1004, will be assumed, as will a elementary biochemistry and NMR spectroscopy. A high level of fluency with basic concepts of organic and inorganic structure and bonding, in particular elementary ligand field theory, and with organic reaction mechanisms will be assumed.

PhD students at UiT The Arctic University of Norway register for the course through StudentWeb . Registrations for the spring semester starts December 1st, unless an earlier date is specified in the application deadline.

External applicants apply for admission through SøknadsWeb. Registrations for the spring semester starts October 1st.

All external applicants have to attach a confirmation of their status as a PhD student from their home institution. Students who hold a Master of Science degree, but are not yet enrolled as a PhD-student have to attach a copy of their master's degree diploma. These students are also required to pay the semester fee.

More information regarding PhD courses at the Faculty of Science and Technology is found here.

Objective of the course

The overall goal of this course is to bring the student to the threshold of a research career in inorganic/bioinorganic chemistry. Toward this goal, the student should acquire the following knowledge, skills and competencies.

Knowledge

A broad knowledge of metalloprotein active sites and metal-containing cofactors and of metal-nucleic-acid interactions, as outlined in a standard textbook;
A detailed mechanistic knowledge of iron- and copper-containing enzymes involved in dioxygen metabolism;
A detailed mechanistic knowledge of specialized cofactors including iron-sulfur clusters, cobalamin, and molybdopterin;
Geometric and electronic-structural aspects of metal-NO interactions;
Aspects of metals in medicine, such as platinum anticancer drugs and technetium radiopharmaceuticals;
Aspects of environmental bioinorganic chemistry, such as arsenic toxicity

Skills

Have a convincing command of the basic facts of bioinorganic chemistry, particularly the major classes of metalloenzymes,
Ability to describe and discuss the geometric and electronic structures of bioinorganic systems in terms of ligand field theory;
Above all, to be able to propose and test mechanistic hypotheses for a wide range of metalloenzymes and model systems.

General competencies

To "think on one's feet" about the electronic structures and mechanisms of metalloenzymes and their synthetic models;
To critically analyze the current bioinorganic literature, to identify key gaps in knowledge, and to propose potential areas for future research;
To be able to engage in discussions of contemporary research with one¿s fellow researchers in the field.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English and course material will be in English.

Teaching methods

Formal lectures: 24 h; Group discussions: 12 h; self-study of assigned reading material, including book chapters and review articles.

Assessment

Grades based on a final, oral examination. Lettergrades (A-F). Admission to the examination requires that the student has passed the written report/research proposal. Deadline for delivery of research proposal: 2 weeks prior to final exam.

The research proposal should identify a problem suitable for one-year full-time project for a beginning PhD student. The oral examination will test (a) the student's general command of descriptive facts and of the electronic structures of key bioinorganic motifs, (b) his/her ability to propose mechanistic hypotheses for metalloenzymes and model systems, and (c) his/her defense of the research proposal.