Bioinorganic chemistry of chromium/new drugs for diabetes
Required Availability
The End of TimeCourse Credit?
Yes - CH 396/CH 497Paid Position?
NoFaculty
John VincentDescription
Elucidation of the structure, function, and mode of action of metallobiomolecules.The elucidation of the structure, function, and mode of action of metallobiomolecules via: 1) spectroscopic, magnetic, kinetic and biochemical studies of the natural systems and 2) the synthesis and characterization of biomimetic inorganic complexes. Our research applies biochemical and synthetic and physical inorganic methods to characterize the function and properties of metallobiomolecules (naturally occurring molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, etc. that contain tightly bound metal ions). The presence of the metal ions gives these species unique magnetic and spectroscopic properties (such as color) that provide avenues (not available to the study of simple proteins, etc.) by which we can examine these compounds in detail. Techniques involved include a variety of chromatographic methods; gel electrophoresis; mass spectrometry; electronic, Raman, electron spin resonance, IR, UV-visible, X-ray absorbance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies; and an assortment of synthetic methods. Currently our efforts are focussed on the elucidation of the role of chromium in diabetes and the maintenance of proper carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and on the mechanism of chromate (as made famous in the Erin Brockovich movie) to cause cancer. We have recently shown that the oligopeptide chromodulin (or also known as low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance, LMWCr) binds to insulin receptor in response to insulin; this results in an increase of the ability of insulin to signal cells that blood glucose concentrations are high. This may be related to adult-onset diabetes (90% of all diabetes cases in the United States), where body tissues become insensitive to insulin. We have also developed a synthetic biomimetic for chromodulin; this comple, called Cr3, has been shown to lower total blood cholesterol levels in rats by 30% and LDL cholesterol by 40%, and may have potential in the treatment of the symptoms of adult-onset diabetes.