A.Bioinorganic, Biophysics, Biocatalysis, Energy Bioconversion (Hydrogen)
B.Role of metals in Biology (heme and non-heme iron, molybdenum, tungsten, nickel , vanadium and cobalt)
Inorganic systems as models for biocatalysis
Spectroscopy (NMR, EPR and Mössbauer), (Bio) Electrochemistry
Main goal is the understanding of electron transfer chains (ETC) of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB), denitrifiers and methane forming bacteria (MFB). The complex ETC systems have implications in health, environment (biocycle of elements) and biocorrosion of metals and also important for the use of new forms of energy (bioconversion). A necessary step is the identification and isolation of metalloenzymes involved. The main goal is the use of spectroscopic techniques namely electron paramagnetic resonance (RPE) and related methods (ENDOR and ESEEM), uni- and multi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance RMN) and Mossbauer spectroscopy and bioelectrochemsitry on the study of structure-function relationship of metallo-proteins and reconstitution of electron transfer chains (protein/protein interactions using Molecular graphics and mechanistic approaches using DFT calculations). The active centers that have been studied include iron-sulphur clusters (rubredoxin type, [2Fe-2S], [3Fe-4S], [4Fe-4S] and novel Fe-S centers), as well as associations with molybdenum, nickel, and hemes and, and more recently novel cooper sites. Case studies: Hydrogenase. Nitrate and Nitrite reductases, NO and N2O reductases, Aldehyde oxido-reductases, Formate dehydrogenase and Superoxide reductase.
KINETIC STUDIES OF THE SUPEROXIDE-MEDIATED ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS BETWEEN RUBREDOXIN-TYPE PROTEINS AND SUPEROXIDE REDUCTASES.
F.Auchère, S. R. Pauleta, P. Tavares, I. Moura and J. J. G. Moura
J.Biol.Inorg.Chem.11, 433-444 (2006)
EPR AND REDOX PROPERTIES OF PERIPLASMIC NITRATE REDUCTASE FROM DESULFOVIBRIO DESULFURICANS ATCC 27774
P.J.González, M.G.Rivas, C.Brondino,S.Bursakov, I. Moura, J.J.G.Moura
J.Biol.Inorg.Chem.11, 609-616 (2006)
NITRIC OXIDE REDUCTASE:DIRECT ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND ELECTROCATALYTIC ACTIVITY
C.Cordas, A.S.Pereira, C.E.Martins, C.G.Timóteo, I.Moura, P.Tavares and J.J.G.Moura
Chem.Biochem. 7, 1878-81 (2006)
METALLOENZYMES OF THE DENITRIFICATION PATHWAY
P.Tavares, A.Pereira, J.J.G.Moura and I.Moura
J.of Inorg.Biochem. 100, 2087-2100 (2006)
MEDIATED CATALYSIS OF PARACOCCUS PANTOTROPHUS CYTOCHROME C PEROXIDASE BY PARACOCCUS PANTOTROPHUS PSEUDOAZURIN – KINETICS OF INTERMOLECULAR ELECTRON TRANSFER
P. M. Paes de Sousa, S. R. Pauleta, G. W. Pettigrew, I. Moura, J. J. G. Moura, M. M. Correia dos Santos, M. L. Simões Gonçalves
J.Biol.Inorg.Chem.(2007) in press