title: The biochemistry of chromium.
abstract: Chromium has been known to be a micronutrient for mammals for four decades, but progress in elucidating the role of chromium has proceeded slowly. However, recent studies have shed light on a potential role of chromium in maintaining proper carbohydrate and lipid metabolism at a molecular level. The oligopeptide chromodulin binds chromic ions in response to an insulin-mediated chromic ion flux, and the metal-saturated oligopeptide can bind to an insulin-stimulated insulin receptor, activating the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity. Thus, chromodulin appears to play a role in an autoamplification mechanism in insulin signaling. The molecular agent responsible for transporting chromium from mobile pools to insulin-sensitive cells is probably the metal transport protein transferrin. Chromium from the popular dietary supplement chromium picolinate enters cells via a different mechanism. Release of chromium from chromium picolinate for use in cells requires reduction of the chromic center, a process that can lead potentially to the production of harmful hydroxyl radicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Coalition for Biomolecular Products, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C485789:chromodulin protein, human; D002857:Chromium