Studies of metal/anion interactions relevant to biological oxidative stress

Inorganic division seminar

Reactions of metal complexes with superoxide anion are fundamentally important to biological oxidative stress. Reductions of metal complexes by superoxide (believed to be the limiting step in ROS production) have long been thought to proceed by an outer-sphere mechanism. Using NMR spectrometry, we have measured rates of metal / anion association for a variety of iron and manganese complexes and have found that these rates correlate well with rates at which the metal complexes react with superoxide. We believe this is strong evidence that these reactions proceed by an inner-sphere mechanism. Based on this evidence, we propose simple experimental methods for predicting metal / superoxide reactivities. Ongoing research in the Summers' lab includes using these methods to study small molecule inhibition of superoxide dismutases enzymes and mechanisms of antibacterial actions of certain clays.

For more information contact Prof. Jake Soper (404-894-4022).