title: Zinc inhibition of calmodulin: a proposed molecular mechanism of zinc action on cellular functions.
abstract: Calcium stimulates, and zinc inhibits, a wide variety of cell types. In the erythrocyte, we have found calcium and zinc to have antagonist actions in a variety of systems. An important mechanism for calcium effects on cells is activation of calmodulin. Calmodulin is a small ubiquitous protein which, when activated by calcium, has a large array of cellular regulatory functions. We now report that calmodulin function is inhibited by low concentrations of zinc. Zinc inhibition of calmodulin provides a rational molecular mechanism for the diverse cellular inhibitory effects of zinc, as well as for zinc's antagonism of calcium effects.
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004492:Edetic Acid; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000201:enzymology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002147:Calmodulin; D004492:Edetic Acid; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium