Educational objectives
The course gives a general overview of scientific contents on metalloproteins and their interaction and catalytic activity with metabolites. The aim is to understand and rationalize relevant biochemical processes involving metals in the cell. Chemistry of transition metals compounds, mono and polydentate ligands, aquo complexes, water exchange rate, complexes with EDTA, 18 electron rule, geometry of the complexes. Interaction of metals with small and organic molecules (eg. CO, carboxylic acids, phenols, amines), redox reactions and catalytic activity of metal complexes. Metals in biological systems (porphyrins, peptides, sulfur ligands). Transport, storage and control of iron. Metalloproteins and metalloenzymes: structure, oxygen transport mechanisms (hemoglobin, hemerythrin, hemocyanin), electron transfer mechanism (iron-sulfur proteins, copper blue proteins, cytochrome c). Enzymatic reactions with Zn (carbonic anhydrase, carboxypeptidase, alcohol dehydrogenase) and metals with different oxidation states, namely Fe, Cu and Co, involving oxygen, peroxides and radical reactions (cytochrome P-450, monooxygenase, dioxygenase, catalase, peroxide dismutase, vitamin B12), mediated by the NAD+ / NADH system. Anticancer Pt and Ru compounds: structure and their mechanism.

Assessment
Oral exam with review questions to test knowledge and some application skills

Evaluation criteria
Final mark is assigned taking into account the clarity of the answers, the ability to summarize, evaluate and establish relationships among different topics