Metal ions and metalloproteins
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Metal ions are essential nutrients for all organisms and play important roles in many biochemical processes. The diverse network of proteins and enzymes involved in intra- and inter-cellular metal trafficking pathways is very complex but highly specific and tightly regulated. Abnormal cellular metal ion concentrations may lead to oxidative damage (particularly for redox-active metals such as Cu and Fe), various diseases and cell death. While many aspects of metal-ions trafficking have been addressed by biochemists and cell biologists, chemists provide yet another layer of information that is crucial to a better understanding of these transport pathways, whether it is related to metal-ions specificity, affinity, kinetics and thermodynamics. Understanding the molecular and mechanistic details of metalloenzymes and the processes they undergo opens up opportunities for metal-ion chelation, detoxification, anti-tumor and anti-cancer therapies. This symposium will address various aspects of metal ion homeostasis and discuss structure-function relationships of a number of metal-ion binding, transport and storage proteins and processes.
Organizer
Dr. Fadi Bou-Abdallah is an assistant professor of chemistry at SUNY Potsdam. He obtained a BS in chemistry from the Lebanese University (in Lebanon) and a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Paris VI (France). Prior to joining SUNY Potsdam, he was a Research Scientist at the University of New Hamsphire where he did his postdoctoral work on the iron storage protein, ferritin. His research interests are in the areas of iron-protein biochemistry in particular proteins involved in the metabolism of iron, i.e. ferritin and transferrin. The overall goal of his research program is to elucidate the structure-function relationships in these and other metal-ion trafficking proteins and their mechanisms of interaction with various metal-ions.
Confirmed speakers
- Prof. Ann M. Valentine, (Yale University): "Nicatransferrin, a monolobal transferrin from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis"
- Prof. Al Crumbliss (Duke University): "Iron transport from man to microbe: Iron acquisition by a gram-negative pathogenic bacterium"
- Prof. Dan Kosman: (University of Buffalo): "Multicopper ferroxidases: A workshop on copper coordination chemistry, electron transfer and metallophysiology"
- Prof. Dean Wilcox: (Dartmouth College): "Thermodynamics of metal-protein interactions"
- Prof. Prem Ponka, (McGill University): "Iron: our friend and foe".
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| Dr. Valentine | Dr. Crumbliss | Dr. Kosman | Dr. Wilcox | Dr. Ponka |
Program
Friday, June 4, 2010, 8:00 AM - 12:05 PM
- Metal Ions and Metalloproteins
- Timerman 131
Organizer/Presider: Fadi Bou-Abdallah
8:00 Introductory Remarks
8:10 260 Iron: Our Friend and Foe. Prem Ponka1,2, (1)McGill University, (2)Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research
8:50 Discussion
8:55 261 Iron Transport from Man to Microbe: Iron Acquisition by a Gram-Negative Pathogenic Bacterium. Alvin L. Crumbliss1, Claire J. Parker Siburt1, Katherine D. Weaver1, J. J. Heymann1, Patrick DeArmond1, Michael J. Fitzgerald1, Cynthia N. Cornelissen2 and Timothy A. Mietzner3, (1)Duke University, (2)Virginia Commonwealth University, (3)University of Pittsburg School of Medicine
9:35 Discussion
9:40 262 Nicatransferrin, a Monolobal Transferrin from the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Ann Valentine, Yale University
10:20 Discussion
10:25 Intermission
10:40 263 Thermodynamics of Metal-Protein Interactions. Dean E. Wilcox, Dartmouth College
11:20 Discussion
11:25 264 Multicopper Ferroxidases: A Workshop on Copper Coordination Chemistry, Electron Transfer and Metallophysiology. Daniel J. Kosman, The University at Buffalo
