Issue 4, 2009

Metal trafficking: from maintaining the metal homeostasis to future drug design

Abstract

The diverse proteins and enzymes involved in metal trafficking between and inside human cells form numerous transport networks which are highly specific for each essential metal ion and apoprotein. Individual players include voltage-gated ion channels, import and export proteins, intracellular metal-ion sensors, storage proteins and chaperones. In the case of calcium, iron and copper, some of the most apparent trafficking avenues are now well established in eukaryotes, while others are just emerging (e.g. for zinc, manganese and molybdenum). Chemistry provides an important contribution to many issues surrounding these transport pathways, from metal binding-constants and ion specificity to metal-ion exchange kinetics. Ultimately, a better understanding of these processes opens up opportunities for metal-ion-related therapy, which goes beyond traditional chelate-based metal ion detoxification.

Graphical abstract: Metal trafficking: from maintaining the metal homeostasis to future drug design

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
05 Mar 2009
Accepted
13 May 2009
First published
11 Jun 2009

Metallomics, 2009,1, 292-311

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