Biological examples of co-ordination compounds

[Dakota Walker 1L]

Do we need to know specific examples and how they work for the final?
If so does anyone know which specific molecules we need to memorize?

[Andrew Jang 4D]

I feel like being conceptually aware of the significance of coordination compounds in biology will be more useful than memorizing specific examples. I do remember him talking about cisplatin and how it's an important chemo drug as it forms a coordination compound w/ DNA to stop replication.

[gabbymaraziti]

Prof. Lavelle did spend a significant amount of time on cisplatin, so I think we should understand that and the distinction between cis and trans.

[EMurphy_2L]

what we've talked about is
-cisplatin (chemo drug in which only cis- molecule, not trans- will connect)
-myglobin (square planar N with Fe + protein surrounding it)
-hemoglobin (4 myoglobin-like molecules)

and he put on the board these transition metals:
-chromin (assists insulin in controlling blood sugar)
-iron (electron transfer in oxidation of organic molecules, respiratory chain)
-cobalt (vitamin B12)
-Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn (enzyme function)