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The Center for Metals in Biocatalysis (CMB) brings together faculty and students from multiple departments at the University of Minnesota who share research interests focused on the catalytic role of metal ions in metalloproteins and synthetic model complexes. The design and use of metal complexes as biological probes and diagnostic agents is another related area of interest. The Metalloprotein Interest Group (MPIG) is made up of participants in the CMB, and meets regularly to discuss research advances. Interested students and faculty are encouraged to survey the list of participating faculty, research interests, recent publications, and the MPIG seminar schedule (links in the left panel).
Regents Professor Lawrence Que Jr. received the Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry (JSCC) International Award from JSCC President Susumu Kitagawa at the annual meeting of the Society in Nara, Japan.
Professor Lawrence Que Jr. received the Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry (JSCC) International Award at the 2015 JSCC conference, which was held at Nara Womens University in Japan, Sept. 21-23. This award is presented to a researcher who has contributed to the development of coordination chemistry through outstanding and pioneering works. Que received his award
Que is one of the University of Minnesota’s most distinguished professors. He is a Regents Professor, the university’s highest faculty honor, and a Distinguished Teaching Professor. He was also named a 3M/Alumni Distinguished Professor of Chemistry.
He is a preeminent researcher. His lab focuses primarily on the unique challenges associated with dioxygen activation by nonheme iron in biological systems. His research group combines biological methods and inorganic synthesis with a range of spectroscopic and kinetic techniques to investigate how iron can activate dioxygen to carry out metabolically important and chemically interesting reactions. His group’s work concentrations include high-valent iron-oxo, bioinspired catalysis, and nonheme iron oxygenases.
Que is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the American Chemical Society. His honors include the Frontiers in Biological Chemistry Award from the Max-Planck-Institut für Bioanorganishe Chemie, the American Chemical Society Alfred Bader Award in Bioorganic or Bioinorganic Chemistry, the Royal Society of Chemistry Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms Award, and the Bailar Medal.
Previous winners of the JSCC International Award include Michael Grätzel, James Collman, Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Harry Gray, Pierre Braunstein, and Joseph Hupp.