Nature has recruited metal ions in a fascinating assortment of biological systems. About half of all proteins contain metal ions as ingredients of their cofactors. Remarkably, metalloenzymes show high rates for small molecule conversion reactions (H2O, H2, O2, CO, CO2, CH4), which are outstandingly important, for example, in renewable energy, medical, and industrial catalysis applications. Metalloenzymes are studied with a broad range of physical methods. The topic of the seminar is to provide insight into the biophysics of metalloenzymes with respect to thematic and methodological aspects and using examples from recent research.
Possible themes for oral presentations (for example in catalysis, structure of metalloenzymes, research methods, theoretical approaches,
applications) will be introduced during the first semester week, including further ideas of the students, and topics are distributed among the participants.
The oral presentations (~20 min) should include a literature search (which will be cross-checked with me). The presentations are then given starting in the third semester week. Goals of the seminar are learning of techniques of scientific literature search and presentation of a scientific topic within a limited time range, as well as providing an overview on biophysical questions and applications.