Metal Ions in Proteins and Biological Molecules

Many metal ions are essential to living cells. They are Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Mo, Zn and constitute about 3% of the human body weight. Na(I), K(I), and Ca(II) are particularly important in the 30-called ion pump mechanism where active transport of metabolites and energetic processes are taking place. Transitions metals such as Zn(II) and Co(II) are found in various metalloenzymes where they coordinate with amino acids and enhance catalysis at the active site (214). They act as super acid catalysts having a 

Hopefully, the development of new chelating agents, through a better understanding of the role and mode of action of metal ions in biosystems, will lead in the near future to far more selective and effective agents for the therapeutic control of both toxic and essential metal ions (215,216). 

Zinc ions are important for a number of diverse biological functions. For example, zinc ions serve as a stabilizer for insulin, the hormone that facilitates the passage of glucose into the cell they are vital components of spermatozoa they are important in speeding up the healing of wounds they are involved in the breakdown of protein food in the intestinal tract. Zinc ions are also involved in one of the key reactions in vision. 

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