title: Zinc biochemistry in normal and neoplastic growth processes.
abstract: Zinc is essential for the growth of all species. Growth arrest results from its deficiency and presumably reflects important roles for this metal at critical points of metabolism. Studies of zinc metalloenzymes show that zinc serves as a coenzyme to more than 80 enzymes, among which are the reverse transcriptases which cause leukemia in many species. Its role in nucleic acid metabolism is emphasized.
mesh_terms: D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D005056:Euglena gracilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009858:Oncogenic Viruses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D015032:Zinc