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Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology EN002F-55 May 22, 2001 21:6

Bioinorganic Chemistry 139

action has been linked to radical scavenging. Numerous the global energy crisis. These are a few examples of the
other inorganic pharmaceuticals are in development. For current research in bioinorganic chemistry.
instance, functionalized manganese porphyrins have been
proposed as anti-inflammatory agents. Other manganese
macrocycles have been proposed as possible treatments SEE ALSO THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES
for heart attacks.
BIOENERGETICS • BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY • BIOMIN-
Inorganic elements are essential to living systems. They
ERALIZATION AND BIOMIMETIC MATERIALS • BIOPOLY-
are present in bones and shells, and are a requirement in
MERS • ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS • ENVIRON-
processes such as nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and
respiration. In excess, however, most inorganic ions are MENTAL TOXINS • ENZYME MECHANISMS • INORGANIC
EXOTIC MOLECULES • ION TRANSPORT ACROSS BIOLOG-
toxic to biological systems. This polarity requires that
most inorganic elements be tightly controlled by organ- ICAL MEMBRANES • NITROGEN CYCLE,BIOLOGICAL •
isms while they are present. The knowledge gained by NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
the study of these inorganic systems has led to the dis-
covery and understanding of many pharmaceuticals. Re- BIBLIOGRAPHY
search in the area of bioinorganic chemistry is directed to
furthering this knowledge. Novel drugs, new drug targets,
Berg, J., and Lippard, S. J. (1994). “Principles of Bioinorganic Chem-
and unique methods of making minerals are among the istry,” University Science Books, Mill Valley, CA.
expected outcomes of exploring new and established en- Bertini, I., Gray, H. B., Lippard, S. J., and Valentine, J. S. (1994).
zymes, mechanisms of detoxification, and systems that bi- “Bioinorganic Chemistry,” University Science Books, Mill Valley,
ologically control the synthesis of minerals. Furthermore, CA.
Holm, R. H., and Solomon, E. I. (eds.) (1996). “Special Issue: Bioinor-
bioinorganic chemists are currently working on ways to
ganic Enzymology,” Chem. Rev. 96(7).
use inorganic molecules as diagnostic tools to probe bio- Mann, S., Webb, J., and Williams, R. J. P. (1989). “Biomineralization:
logical macromolecules such as DNA. Some scientists are Chemical and Biochemical Perspectives,” VCH, New York.
exploring the fundamentals of metalloprotein structure to Orvig, C., and Abrams, M. J. (eds.) (1999). “Special Issue: Medicinal
develop synthetic tools to create medically and industri- Inorganic Chemistry,” Chem. Rev. 99(9).
Silver, S., and Walden, W. (1998). “Metal Ions in Gene Regulation,”
ally useful synthetic proteins. Still others are using the
Chapman & Hall, New York.
knowledge gained from the study of photosynthesis to ex- Voet, D., and Voet, J. G. (1995). “Biochemistry,” 2nd ed., Wiley, New
plore methods of artificial photosynthesis to help alleviate York.