Bioinorganic chemistry foundations. Tranport and storage of oxygen: hemoglobin, myoglobin, hemerythrin and hemocyanin. Electron transfer: blu copper proteins, Fe-S proteins, cytochromes, electron transport chain in the mitochondria, photosynthesis. Transport and storage of the metals: Fe, V, Ni, Na, K. Metal-enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidases, oxidases and oxygenases, nitrogenase, enzymes with Zn, Co and Ni. Metal toxicity: heavy metals, chromium.
Exercitations in the laboratory: synthesis, characterization and interaction with the blood plasma components of insulin-mimetic vanadium compounds, transport of Cu(II) ion in the organism.