Ideas in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences

Bruno Pignataro, born in Bologna in 1972, is Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Palermo. He received his degree in chemistry in 1995 from the University of Catania and his PhD in materials science five years later. He has helped establish a wide network of international collaborations and organized more than 10 meetings at national and international level, including coordinating the Young Chemists Group of the Italian Chemical Society and chairing the first editions of the European Young Chemist Award. He is a referee for several leading chemistry and materials journals, has more than 70 scientific publications and some 90 conference communications to his name, along with several invited lectures. Professor Pignataro's research interests focus on the related fields of the physical chemistry of molecular surfaces and soft nanotechnologies.

• Preface PART I: Biochemical Studies THE ROLE OF COPPER ION AND THE UBIQUITIN SYSTEM IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERSIntroductionMetal Ions in the BrainBrain Copper HomeostasisBrain Copper and Neurodegenerative DisordersThe Role ob Ubiquitin in Protein DegradationFailure of the Ubiquitin System in Neurodegenerative DisordersInteraction of Ubiquitin with Metal IonsBiological ImplicationsConclusions and PerspectivesTHE BIOINORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY OF COPPER(III)IntroductionBioinorganic Implications of Copper(III)Organometallic CuIII Species in Organic TransformationsMiscellany: Cuprate Superconducting MaterialsOverview and Future TargetsCHEMICAL PROTEIN MODIFICATIONIntroducing Diversity by Posttranslational ModificationChemistry: A Route to Modified ProteinsChallenges in Chemical Protein ModificationTraditional Methods for Protein ModificationRecent Innovations in Site-Selective Protein ModificationConclusion and Outlook PART II: Drug Delivery VITAMIN B12: A POTENTIAL TARGETING MOLECULE FOR THERAPEUTIC DRUG DELIVERYIntroductionTransport MechanismMetabolism of B12Vitamin B12 DerivativesOutlookSTRATEGIES FOR MICROSPHERE-MEDIATED CELLULAR DELIVERYIntroductionMicrospheresFuture Perspectives PART III: Research in Therapeutics FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES IN RADIATION DAMAGE TO DNA: HOW LOW-ENERGY ELECTRONS DAMAGE BIOMOLECULESRadiation Damage and the Role of Low-Energy ElectronsDEA Studies on Model Compounds for the DNA BackboneOutlook and Future ProspectsSTRUCTURE-BASED DESIGN ON THE WAY TO NEW ANTI-INFECTIVESIntroductionIsoprenoids and the Nonmevalonate PathwayTargeting the CDP-Binding Pocket of IspEX-Ray Cocrystal Structure AnalysisConclusions and OutlookDRUG-MEMBRANE INTERACTIONS: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THERAPEUTIC AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF DRUGSBiological MembranesDrug-Membrane InteractionsAnalysis and Quantification of Drug-Membrane InteractionsDrug-Membrane Interactions Applied to the Study of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)Conclusions and Future Research DirectionsTARGETING DISEASE WITH SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITORS OF PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONSIntroductionHigh-Throughput Screening of Chemical LibrariesHigh-Throughput Screening of Biosynthesized LibrariesFuture DirectionCRACKING THE GLYCOCODE: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN GLYCOMICSState of the ArtSome New Insights in GlycomicsFuture Perspectives PART IV: Enzyme Chemistry O2 REACTIVITY AT MODEL COPPER SYSTEMS: MIMICKING TYROSINASE ACTIVITYGeneral Introduction: O2 Activation and Model SystemsCopper Proteins Involved in O2 ActivationO2 Binding and Activation at Biomimetic Cu ComplexesConcluding Remarks PART V: Structure-Property Relationship and Biosensing CHIRALITY IN BIOCHEMISTRY: A COMPUTATIONAL APPROACH FOR INVESTIGATING BIOMOLECULE CONFORMATIONSIntroductionComputational Techniques for Studying Protein DynamicsEmploying Chirality to Analyze Protein MotionsPerspectivesCOLLISIONAL MECHANISM-BASED E-DNA SENSORS: A GENERAL PLATFORM FOR LABEL-FREE ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION OF HYBRIDIZATION AND DNA BINDING PROTEINSIntroductionE-DNA Signaling MechanismE-DNA Sensor for DNA Binding Proteins DetectionConclusions and Future Perspectives