Metalloproteins, examples involved

NO also has cytotoxic effects when synthesized in large quantities, eg, by activated macrophages. For example, NO inhibits metalloproteins involved in cellular respiration, such as the citric acid cycle enzyme aconitase and the electron transport chain protein cytochrome oxidase. Inhibition of the heme-containing cytochrome P450 enzymes by NO is a major pathogenic mechanism in inflammatory liver disease. 

The mechanism of the regulation of electron transfer in metalloproteins has been investigated 61) and two relevant examples have been discussed in the first one the molecular mechanism controlling the electron transfer reactions is restricted to the immediate chemical environment of the metal center (azurin), while in the second one it involves a conformational transition of the whole quaternary structure of the enzyme. The power of the kinetic approach in detecting significant intermediates was emphasized 6t>. The Cu metal complex site of azurin has a distorted tetrahedral... 

However, the changes in environment which occurred with the change from a reductive to an oxidative atmosphere rendered iron sulfide-based redox systems inconvenient, as they were very sensitive to (irreversible) oxidation. We saw in earlier chapters the facile formation of porphyrin and phthalocyanines from relatively simple precursors, and these systems were adopted for the final steps of electron transfer in oxidative conditions. The occurrence of iron centres in planar tetradentate macrocycles is ubiquitous, and metalloproteins containing such features are involved in almost every aspect of electron transfer and dioxygen metabolism. A typical example is seen in the electron transfer protein cytochrome c (Fig. 10-10). 

Metal bridges are formed from enzymes or hormones to the substrates. These intermediate complexes are able to enhance the reaction in a number of metabolic processes, 3. Some metal ions are known to act as a cofactor or coenzyme being involved in redox reactions directly. Further, metalloproteins may serve as a pool for metal storage. Examples for this are displayed by ferritin, transferrin or ferrichrome, to mention just a few. 

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