Biomolecule-to-Organism Manifestations of Metal Toxicity

FIGURE 1.6 In vitro inhibition of enzyme activity by metal ions is correlated with the absolute value of the logarithm of the first hydrolysis constant (i.e., K(,h for M ++ HjO — MOH + H+) and the softness index (Op). Inhibition data for these three enzymes were produced by Christensen (1971/1972) and Christensen and Tncker (1976). White diamonds=catfish carbonic anhydrase ICjq, grey sqnares=white sucker lactic dehydrase ICjo and black triangles = white sucker glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase ICjo- 

In summary, differences in metal coordination chemistries produce differences in the bioaccumulation and effects of single metals. Associated trends can be predicted with basic metrics of metal-ligand interactions. 

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