2024 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Basic bioinorganic chemistry
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Takafumi Ueno / Toshiaki Kamachi / Noriyuki Asakura
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Tue / 1-2 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A247
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 17, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course will teach you the critical role that metal ions play in biological processes. You will learn that many biological functions are performed at the molecular and the cellular level by metal ions that are incorporated into the metal-binding sites of proteins and enzymes. You will begin this course by reviewing the basic principles of inorganic chemistry and coordination chemistry. Following the brief overview, you will understand hydrolysis, electron transfer, oxygen activation reactions promoted in various biological systems. This course will help you to recognize the importance of inorganic chemistry in various biological systems and understand the principle in biology.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain basic inorganic and coordination Chemistry
2. Explain structures of metalloproteins and metalloenzymes
3. Explain reaction mechanisms of metalloproteins and metalloenzymes
Keywords
Inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, metalloprotein, metalloenzyme, biomineral
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
（１）At the beginning of each class, the previous class is reviewed, then the essential points of this class are shown as exercise problems.
（２）Towards the end of class, students are given exercise problems related to what is taught on the begining of class to solve as needed.
（３）Before coming to class, students should read the course outcomes and check what topics will be covered. Required learning should be completed outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Overview of Bioinorganic chemistry, Metals in Life | Understand the discipline of Biological Inorganic Chemistry. Understand the outline of metal ions in biological system and importance of metal ions. |
| Class 2 | Fundamentals in coordination chemistry I | Fundamentals of inorganic chemistry for understanding Biological Inorganic Chemistry. |
| Class 3 | Fundamentals in coordination chemistry II | Fundamentals of inorganic chemistry for understanding Biological Inorganic Chemistry. |
| Class 4 | Fundamentals in coordination chemistry III | Fundamentals of inorganic chemistry for understanding Biological Inorganic Chemistry. |
| Class 5 | Hydrolysis reactionI | Hydrolysis reactions in biology |
| Class 6 | Hydrolysis reactionII | Structures and functions of hydrolases |
| Class 7 | Summary and midterm exam of class #1-#6 | Test level of understanding of the first part of the course |
| Class 8 | Electron transfer I | Understand the reaction mechanism of electron transfer |
| Class 9 | Electron transfer II | Structure and function of electron transfer proteins |
| Class 10 | Electron transfer III | Respiratory chain and photoreaction center |
| Class 11 | Transduction of energy in living cell | Respiratory chain and photoreaction center |
| Class 12 | Chemistry of molecular oxygen | Electron configuration of molecular oxygen & reactive oxygen molecules |
| Class 13 | Oxygen transportation | Molecular mechanism of molecular oxygen binding to protein |
| Class 14 | Summary and final exam of class #8-#13 | Test level of understanding of the second half of the course |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Basic Bioinorganic Chemistry
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Biophysical Chemistry（ISBN-9784759811407）
Bioinorganic Chemistry （ISBN-10: 4782704836）
Bioinorganic Chemistry （ISBN-10: 4807904574）
The Biological Chemistry of the Elements: The Inorganic Chemistry of Life (ISBN-0198555989)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students’ course scores are based on midterm and final exams
Related courses
- LST.A201 ： Physical Chemistry I
- CAP.A373 ： Inorganic Chemistry (Coordination Chemistry)
- LST.A338 ： Advanced biological inorganic chemistry
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.
Other
If the number of students needs to be limited, priority may be given to students of the School of Life Science and Technology.