Bioinorganic Chemistry: Enzyme Systems and Methods of Investigation

This course aims to provide an overview of the activity of the main transition metals (iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel) through:
- the analysis of the characteristics of the metal in its interaction with the proteic system
- the study of the mode of binding and activation of small molecules and of the mechanism of interaction with substrates, and their consequences on the progress of enzyme function
To achieve this goal, the course will also be concerned with identifying the most appropriate instrumental investigation methods and evaluating the different results to which they can lead.

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
- understand mechanisms of metal-protein interaction and their function in the enzymatic catalytic mechanism;
- recognize and discuss similarities of action of a metal in different enzymatic systems and relate this behavior to the properties of the metal
- identify the method(s) of investigation that can provide specific informations about the metal-protein system and its function