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Structural Adaptability of Zinc Binding Sites: Different Structures in Partially, Fully, and Heavy‐Metal Loaded States
Author(s) -
Heinz Uwe,
Hemmingsen Lars,
Kiefer Martin,
Adolph HansWerner
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200900870
Subject(s) - zinc , metal , metal ions in aqueous solution , chemistry , extended x ray absorption fine structure , metal toxicity , absorption spectroscopy , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
The present study demonstrates that both the nature (Zn II , Cd II or Hg II ) and supply of metal ions determine whether zinc fingers fold into the well‐known, fully loaded structures or alternatively populate a variety of structural states under substoichiometric conditions. Metal‐bridged species are observed by perturbed angular correlation (PAC), EXAFS, UV spectroscopy, and stopped‐flow kinetics. Transitions between structural states as adaptive reactions to changed metal‐ion supply might represent intelligent system changes in zinc homeostasis, trafficking and signalling, and reflect features of heavy‐metal toxicity at the molecular level. Because the zinc fingers exist in structural states that are different from the metal‐free and fully loaded species, the prevailing view on metal‐mediated molecular regulation in terms of “on and off control” might be oversimplified.