title: Metal trafficking: from maintaining the metal homeostasis to future drug design.
abstract: The diverse proteins and enzymes involved in metal trafficking between and inside human cells form numerous transport networks which are highly specific for each essential metal ion and apoprotein. Individual players include voltage-gated ion channels, import and export proteins, intracellular metal-ion sensors, storage proteins and chaperones. In the case of calcium, iron and copper, some of the most apparent trafficking avenues are now well established in eukaryotes, while others are just emerging (e.g. for zinc, manganese and molybdenum). Chemistry provides an important contribution to many issues surrounding these transport pathways, from metal binding-constants and ion specificity to metal-ion exchange kinetics. Ultimately, a better understanding of these processes opens up opportunities for metal-ion-related therapy, which goes beyond traditional chelate-based metal ion detoxification.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, PO Box 151150, D-66123 Saarbruecken, Germany.
authors.forename: Lalla Aicha
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doering
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burkholz
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D015195:Drug Design; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D056511:Metallochaperones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056511:Metallochaperones; D008670:Metals; D011506:Proteins