SECTION A
[50]
QUESTION 1:
[12]
Give a brief account for the following techniques used to study metals in biology:
a) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy.
(4)
b) NMR spectroscopy.
(4)
c) X-ray Diffraction
(4)
QUESTION 2:
[10]
a) Why is chelation important in medicine?
(4)
b) Why are corrins and pophyrins regarded as an important class of natural chelator molecules? (6)
QUESTION 3:
[16]
a) Which of the 20 amino acids are potential metal ligands?
(10)
b) Which of the low molecular weight inorganic anions bind to Fe** in proteins?
(2)
c) Which metals are inserted into the tetrapyrrole nucleus of corrins and porphyrins to form
vitamin Biz and other cobalamine cofactors, haem, chlorophyll and coenzyme Fa3o0
respectively?
(4)
QUESTION 4:
[12]
Describe the function and variety of siderophores.
SECTION B:
[50]
QUESTION 1:
[17]
1.1) Nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a cellular redox reagent that is involved in redox
chemistry throughout respiratory system. The reduced form of NAD is NADH and oxidised form
is NAD*. An electrochemical cell is constructed using a half-cell for which the reduction is given:
NAD* + H*+ 2e — NADH
F°=-0.105V
which combined with the half-cells for which the reduction reaction is given by:
a) CO + H*2 + 2e° — HCOO-
F°=-0.105V
b) O+22H* + 2e°> H202
F°=0.69V
Write the overall reaction for the cells in the direction of spontaneous change. Is the NAD
reduced or oxidised in spontaneous reactions?
(9)
1.2) You are given the following reduction reactions and E® values at pH = 7.
CH3COO™ (aq) + 3H* (aq) + 2e° > CH3CHO (aq) + H20
F° =-0.581 V
CH3CHO (aq) + 2H* (aq) + 2e° > CH3CH20H (aq)
f° =-0.197 V
Where E° indicates the biological state. Calculate E* for the half-cell reaction:
CH3COO: (aq) + SH* (aq) + 4e° — CH3CH20H (aq) + H20 (I)
(8)
Page 2 of 4