Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms
Zinc is a redox-inert trace element that is second only to iron in abundance in biological systems. In cells, zinc is typically buffered and bound to metalloproteins, but it may also exist in a labile or chelatable (free ion) form. Zinc plays a critical role in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, ranging fr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Biomedicines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/2/208 |
| _version_ | 1797395661183778816 |
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| author | Math P. Cuajungco Maria Soledad Ramirez Marcelo E. Tolmasky |
| author_facet | Math P. Cuajungco Maria Soledad Ramirez Marcelo E. Tolmasky |
| author_sort | Math P. Cuajungco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zinc is a redox-inert trace element that is second only to iron in abundance in biological systems. In cells, zinc is typically buffered and bound to metalloproteins, but it may also exist in a labile or chelatable (free ion) form. Zinc plays a critical role in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, ranging from structural to catalytic to replication to demise. This review discusses the influential properties of zinc on various mechanisms of bacterial proliferation and synergistic action as an antimicrobial element. We also touch upon the significance of zinc among eukaryotic cells and how it may modulate their survival and death through its inhibitory or modulatory effect on certain receptors, enzymes, and signaling proteins. A brief discussion on zinc chelators is also presented, and chelating agents may be used with or against zinc to affect therapeutics against human diseases. Overall, the multidimensional effects of zinc in cells attest to the growing number of scientific research that reveal the consequential prominence of this remarkable transition metal in human health and disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:38:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae97e9b4b55641bca6c4b6fcfb1db00d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:38:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae97e9b4b55641bca6c4b6fcfb1db00d2023-12-11T18:00:34ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592021-02-019220810.3390/biomedicines9020208Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living OrganismsMath P. Cuajungco0Maria Soledad Ramirez1Marcelo E. Tolmasky2Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USACenter for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USACenter for Applied Biotechnology Studies, Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USAZinc is a redox-inert trace element that is second only to iron in abundance in biological systems. In cells, zinc is typically buffered and bound to metalloproteins, but it may also exist in a labile or chelatable (free ion) form. Zinc plays a critical role in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, ranging from structural to catalytic to replication to demise. This review discusses the influential properties of zinc on various mechanisms of bacterial proliferation and synergistic action as an antimicrobial element. We also touch upon the significance of zinc among eukaryotic cells and how it may modulate their survival and death through its inhibitory or modulatory effect on certain receptors, enzymes, and signaling proteins. A brief discussion on zinc chelators is also presented, and chelating agents may be used with or against zinc to affect therapeutics against human diseases. Overall, the multidimensional effects of zinc in cells attest to the growing number of scientific research that reveal the consequential prominence of this remarkable transition metal in human health and disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/2/208metalloproteinszinc transportersmetal chelatorsantibiotic resistanceantimicrobials |
| spellingShingle | Math P. Cuajungco Maria Soledad Ramirez Marcelo E. Tolmasky Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms Biomedicines metalloproteins zinc transporters metal chelators antibiotic resistance antimicrobials |
| title | Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms |
| title_full | Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms |
| title_fullStr | Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms |
| title_short | Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms |
| title_sort | zinc multidimensional effects on living organisms |
| topic | metalloproteins zinc transporters metal chelators antibiotic resistance antimicrobials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/2/208 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mathpcuajungco zincmultidimensionaleffectsonlivingorganisms AT mariasoledadramirez zincmultidimensionaleffectsonlivingorganisms AT marceloetolmasky zincmultidimensionaleffectsonlivingorganisms |