Chemistry

Organic and Bioinorganic Chemistry

Module code: F1128
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Workshop
Assessment modes: Coursework, Computer based exam

The aim of this module is to give you an overview of medicinal chemistry and metal ions in biochemistry.

You learn about the basic principles of medicinal chemistry, from the shape of biomolecules and target complexes, to the development of new drugs - exploring two case studies.

You also explore the importance of metal ions in biological systems, the transport of metals and the biosynthesis of metal binding sites - looking at a few metal-containing proteins and enzymes in detail.

Module learning outcomes

• Understand and give examples of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
• Understand how drugs are discovered, developed and designed, with reference to contemporary case studies on drugs and drugs acting on the central nervous system
• Describe the distribution of metals in life, basic concepts of coordination chemistry, how metal ions are transported in biological system and the various pathways for the biosynthesis of metal centres
• Understand how hydrolytic enzymes operate, how dioxygen is transported and activated and how electrons are transferred in biological systems