Bioinorganic chemistry 1131060 223760112 2008-07-05T17:37:15Z Littlealien182 3345501 clean up using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] '''Bioinorganic chemistry''' is a specialized field that spans the [[chemistry]] of [[metal]]-containing [[molecule]]s within biological systems. This field is concerned with the control and use of metal [[ion]]s in biochemical processes. Although bioinorganic chemistry includes the study of artificially introduced metals (e.g. medicinally), many natural occurring [[biological process]]es (such as [[cellular respiration|respiration]]) depend upon molecules containing inorganic elements, such as [[metalloprotein]]s, and these natural processes are also studied by bioinorganic chemistry. Bioinorganic chemistry has developed from the continuing research in inorganic chemistry and its important associations in biological chemistry. It is a discipline which is focussed on: * the study of elements and inorganic compounds in biological systems and the study of inorganic models that could imitate the chemical behaviour in those biological systems. * the study of non-essential elements with an application in the diagnosis and therapeutic field. As a mix of [[biochemistry]] and [[inorganic chemistry]], bioinorganic chemistry is important in realizing the implications of electron-transfer [[protein]]s, substrate bindings and activation, atom and group transfer chemistry as well as metal properties in biological chemistry. ==History== [[Paul Ehrlich]] used [[organoarsenic]] (“arsenicals”) for the treatment of [[syphilis]], demonstrating the relevance of metals, or at least metalloids, to medicine, that blossomed with Rosenberg’s discovery of the anti-cancer activity of [[cisplatin]] (cis-PtCl<sub>2</sub>(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>). The first protein ever crystallized (see [[James B. Sumner]]) was [[urease]], later shown to contain nickel at its [[active site]]. [[Cyanocobalamin|Vitamin B<sub>12</sub>]], the cure for [[pernicious anemia]] was shown crystallographically by [[Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin]] to consist of a cobalt in a [[corrin]] macrocycle. The Watson-Crick structure for [[DNA]] demonstrated the key structural role played by phosphate-containing polymers. ==Research areas== There are several distinct systems of interest in bioinorganic chemistry. These areas include metal ion transport and storage, metallo[[hydrolase]] enzymes, metal-containing [[electron transfer]] proteins, oxygen transport and activation proteins, bioorganometallic systems such as hydrogenases and alkyltransferases, and enzymes involved in nitrogen [[metabolism]] pathways. '''Metal ion transport and storage''' covers a diverse collection of [[ion channel]]s, ion pumps (e.g. [[NaKATPase]]), [[vacuole]]s, [[siderophore]]s, and other [[protein]]s and small molecules whose aim is to carefully control the concentration of metal ions in the cell. '''[[Hydrolase]] enzymes''' include a diverse collection of proteins that interact with water and substrates. Examples of this class of [[metalloprotein]]s are [[carbonic anhydrase]], metallo[[phosphatase]]s, and [[metalloproteinase]]s. '''Metal-containing electron transfer proteins''' are organized into three major classes: * [[iron-sulfur protein]]s such as [[rubredoxin]]s, [[ferredoxin]]s, [[Rieske protein]]s, and aconitases * blue [[copper proteins]] * [[cytochrome]]s These electron transport proteins are complementary to the non-metal electron transporters [[nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide]] (NAD) and [[flavin adenine dinucleotide]] (FAD). '''Oxygen transport and activation proteins''' make extensive use of metals such as iron, copper, and manganese. [[Heme]] is utilized by [[red blood cell]]s in the form of [[hemoglobin]] for oxygen transport and is perhaps the most recognized metal system in biology. Other oxygen transport systems include [[myoglobin]], [[hemocyanin]], and [[hemerythrin]]. [[Oxidase]]s and [[oxygenase]]s are metal systems found throughout nature that take advantage of oxygen to carry out important reactions such as energy generation in [[cytochrome c oxidase]] or small molecule oxidation in [[cytochrome P450 oxidase]]s or [[methane monooxygenase]]. Some metalloproteins are designed to protect a biological system from the potentially harmful effects of oxygen and other reactive oxygen-containing molecules such as [[hydrogen peroxide]]. These systems include [[peroxidase]]s, [[catalase]]s, and [[superoxide dismutase]]s. A complementary metalloprotein to those that react with oxygen is the [[oxygen evolving complex]] present in plants. This system is part of the complex protein machinery that [[Oxygen evolution|produces oxygen]] as plants perform [[photosynthesis]]. '''[[Bioorganometallic chemistry|Bioorganometallic]] systems''' such as [[hydrogenase]]s and [[methylcobalamin]] are biological examples of [[organometallic chemistry]]. '''The nitrogen [[metabolism]] pathways''' make extensive use of metals. [[Nitrogenase]] is one of the more famous [[metalloprotein]]s associated with nitrogen metabolism. More recently, the [[cardiovascular]] and [[nueron]]al importance of [[nitric oxide]] has been examined, including the enzyme [[nitric oxide synthase]]. (See also: [[nitrogen assimilation]].) '''Metals in medicine''' is the study of the design and mechanism of action of metal-containing pharmaceuticals, and compounds that interact with endogenous metal ions in enzyme active sites. This diverse field includes the platinum and ruthenium anti-cancer drugs, chelating agents, gold drug chaperones, and gadolinium contrast agents. == External links == *[http://www.sbic-home.org/ The Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (SBIC)'s home page] *[http://www.chem.qmw.ac.uk/iupac/bioinorg/ Glossary of Terms in Bioinorganic Chemistry] *[http://tanna.bch.ed.ac.uk/ Metal Coordination Groups in Proteins by Marjorie Harding] *[http://www.ebi.ac.uk/~kirill/biometal/ Bio, M. et al. home page] ==References== * Heinz-Bernhard Kraatz (editor), Nils Metzler-Nolte (editor), ''Concepts and Models in Bioinorganic Chemistry'', John Wiley and Sons, 2006, ISBN 3-527-31305-2 * Ivano Bertini, Harry B. Gray, Edward I. Stiefel, Joan Selverstone Valentine, ''Biological Inorganic Chemistry'', University Science Books, 2007, ISBN 1-891389-43-2 * Wolfgang Kaim, Brigitte Schwederski "Bioinorganic Chemistry: Inorganic Elements in the Chemistry of Life." John Wiley and Sons, 1994, ISBN 0-471-94369-X * Ivano Bertini, Harry B. Gray, Stephen J. Lippard, Joan Selverstone Valentine, "Bioinorganic Chemistry," University Science Books, 1994, ISBN 0-935702-57-1 * Stephen J. Lippard, Jeremy M. Berg, ''Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry'', University Science Books, 1994, ISBN 0-935702-72-5 * Rosette M. Roat-Malone, ''Bioinorganic Chemistry : A Short Course'', [[John Wiley & Sons|Wiley-Interscience]], 2002, ISBN 0-471-15976-X * J.J.R. Fraústo da Silva and R.J.P. Williams, ''The biological chemistry of the elements: The inorganic chemistry of life'', 2nd Edition, [[Oxford University Press]], 2001, ISBN 0-19-850848-4 * Lawrence Que, Jr., ed., ''Physical Methods in Bioinorganic Chemistry'', University Science Books, 2000, ISBN 1-891389-02-5 {{BranchesofChemistry}} [[Category:Biochemistry]] [[Category:Inorganic chemistry]] [[ca:Química bioinorgànica]] [[de:Bioanorganische Chemie]] [[fr:Chimie bioinorganique]] [[it:Chimica bioinorganica]] [[hu:Bioszervetlen kémia]] [[nl:bioanorganische chemie]] [[nl:Bioanorganische chemie]] [[ja:生物無機化学]] [[pt:Química Bioinorgânica]] [[zh:生物无机化学]]