Article
Article
Bioinorganic chemistry
Article By:
Que, Lawrence, Jr. Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Last reviewed:October 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.082500
The field at the interface between biochemistry and inorganic chemistry; also known as inorganic biochemistry or metallobiochemistry. This field involves the application of the principles of inorganic chemistry to problems of biology and biochemistry. Because most biological components are organic, that is, they involve the chemistry of carbon compounds, the combination of the prefix bio- and inorganic may appear contradictory. However, organisms require a number of other elements to carry out their basic functions. Many of these elements are present as metal ions that are involved in crucial biological processes such as respiration, metabolism, cell division, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and gene regulation. The characterization of the interactions between such metal centers and biological components is the heart of bioinorganic chemistry. See also: Biochemistry; Inorganic chemistry
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