Chemical Sciences Seminars

Heavy Metal Ions Working in Human Bodies and Their Reactions

by Prof. Teizo Kitagawa (University of Hyogo, Japan)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from to (Asia/Kolkata)
at Colaba Campus ( AG-66 )
TIFR, Colaba Mumbai 400005
Description Metal ions play important roles in human life as cell components as well as materials. Accordingly, understanding chemistry is essential in our life. In this talk, first I would like to introduce the world of chemistry to general people by focusing on heavy metal ions in life. Second, I would like to explain basic ideas for elucidating functional mechanisms of these metal ions. Finally, one of powerful techniques for investigating structure-function relationships of metallo-proteins, Raman spectroscopy found by Sir C.V. Raman, is explained, and a few examples of concrete results will be surveyed. Practically, the talk will consist of (1) What is ‘molecule’?, (2) Atoms are vibrating in a molecule (permanent motion), (3) Protein is a kind of molecules, (4) There are various metallo-proteins with different functions, (5) Raman spectroscopy can elucidate working mechanisms of metallo-proteins, and as examples, some practically important results from hemoglobin, respiration enzymes, gas sensor proteins, etc. will be demonstrated.