Electron Transfer through a Photosynthetic Reaction Center

Submitted by Levi Ekanger / The College of New Jersey on Thu, 09/07/2023 - 16:23
Description

This is a computer-based activity intended for a bioinorganic chemistry course composed of upper-level undergraduate students. It is helpful for students to be familiar with concepts of electron transfer, including a surface-level introduction to Marcus theory and the inverted region, and photosynthetic charge separation before beginning this activity. However, this activity can easily be adapted to students with other levels of preparation in a bioinorganic course.

Getting to Know the MetalPDB

Submitted by Anthony L. Fernandez / Merrimack College on Fri, 07/06/2018 - 11:29
Description

When teaching my advanced bioinorganic chemistry course, I extensively incorporate structures from Protein Data Bank in both my assignments and classroom discussions and mini-lectures.

MetalPDB website

Submitted by Anthony L. Fernandez / Merrimack College on Wed, 05/16/2018 - 12:58
Description

When teaching my advanced bioinorganic chemistry course, I extensively incorporate structures from Protein Data Bank in both my assignments and classroom discussions and mini-lectures. I also have students access structures both in and out of class as they complete assignments.

Utilizing the PDB and HSAB theory to understand metal specificity in trafficking proteins

Submitted by EGunn / Simmons College on Thu, 07/17/2014 - 15:19
Description

This is an in-class PDB exercise based on the paper "Mechanisms Controlling the Cellular Metal Economy" by Gilston and O'Halloran. Students are asked to visualize the metal binding sites of several proteins discussed in the paper, highlighting unusual metal geometries. After identifying the amino acid residues involved in metal binding, students will discuss the bond structure in terms of HSAB theory. 

Literature Discussion of "Mechanisms Controlling the Cellular Metal Economy"

Submitted by Kyle Grice / DePaul University on Thu, 07/17/2014 - 15:07
Description

This is a literature discussion of a review by Tom O'Halloran (The link to the paper is included in the "Web Resources" below). The review covers concepts of metal content in cells, metal trasport, storage, and regulation. Its a good review to start a broader or deeper discussion about metals in biology. We have provided some questions to help guide the student discussion. These questions can be given to students prior to coming to class, and the answers can either be used for the in-class discussion and/or collected. 

The relevance of Transition Metal-Carbon Bonds in Biology and Chemistry

Submitted by Mwalimu / Russell Sage College on Tue, 07/15/2014 - 12:45
Description

The students will write a paper in which they analyze the Vitamin B12 co-enzyme from biological, chemical and biochemical perspectives, and will use the guided questions to help show the relevance of an organometallic chemistry experiment to real biochemical systems. This activity is based on a synthetic lab experiment that students would have performed on transition metal-carbon bonds in biology and chemistry (The lab experiment was adapted from third edition of “Inorganic Experiments” by Derek Woollins).

Learning Objects used at the 2014 VIPEr Workshop on Bioinorganic Chemistry

Submitted by Betsy Jamieson / Smith College on Wed, 06/25/2014 - 09:32

This collection highlights the learning objects used at the 2014 VIPEr workshop on the Bioinorganic Applications of Coordination Chemistry to introduce participants to the field of bioinorganic chemistry.   They provide essential background information on how metals bind to proteins as well as the techniques used in the research papers presented at the workshop.  A list of learning objects created at the workshop based on the current research of our expert speakers can be found at: 

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