Study of the coordination sphere of metal ions and their interactions in proteins containing porphyrins

• Grant number: 14/21845-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Ignez Caracelli
• Grantee: Amanda Rodrigues Maia
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project goal will be to conduct a survey of proteins containing porphyrins whose central ion is not iron, separate them by type of coordinated metal and by their classification. Then the neighborhood of the ion and that of the porphyrins will be analyzed. The survey of three-dimensional structures will be done using the Protein Data Bank (PDB) database. The analysis to determine the molecular interactions will involve the use of programs for graphical visualization and vector mapping programs. Finally it will be determined if there are patterns regarding the neighborhood around the ion and the porphyrin moiety.