Metal-binding proteins, chelate effect

The chelate effect in proteins is also important, since the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of the protein can impose particular coordination geometry on the metal ion. This determines the ligands available for coordination, their stereochemistry and the local environment, through local hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, hydrogen bonding by nearby residues with bound and non-bound residues in the metal ion s coordination sphere, etc. A good example is illustrated by the Zn2+-binding site of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, which has an affinity for Zn2+, such that the non-metallated protein can extract Zn2+ from solution into the site and can displace Cu2+ from the Zn2+ site when the di-Cu2+ protein is treated with excess Zn2+. 

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