A tale of two metals.
A recent study by Thomas O'Halloran and his group at Northwestern University (Avarez et al. Sciencexpress, www.scienceexpress.org, 26 November 2009) has provided insights into how tetrathiomolybdate inhibits copper-trafficking proteins through metal cluster formation. The broader context of the work provides an attractive explanation of the long recognized but poorly understood antagonistic effects of Mo and Cu in living organisms.
Blackburn
Ninian J
NJ
Department of Science and Engineering, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Sciences University, 20000 NW Walker Road, Beaverton, OR 97006-8291, USA.