HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
Chemists characterize regulators of zinc intake and export in cells

ich provides a good model of zinc metabolism in animal cells. They found that when the amount of zinc in the cell increases to a point where zinc is no longer needed for cellular tasks, the extra zinc binds tightly to the protein Zur. This reaction in turn shuts down the zinc intake pump.

In the case of the regulatory protein ZntR, the opposite happens when it combines with zinc. When ZntR senses any extra zinc after the intake pump has been shut off, ZntR binds with the zinc, turning on the export pump. Any unwanted and potentially dangerous zinc is pumped out of the cell.

The researchers determined the concentrations of zinc required within the cell in order for the proteins to turn off and on the pumps. They showed that the regulatory system is so sensitive and finely tuned that zinc does not have the opportunity to float freely in the cells cytoplasm before it binds to either Zur or ZntR, depending on the cycle.

"The zinc concentration is so low in between pump activity that free-floating zinc just doesnt exist," said Outten, now a post-doctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Its a kinetic process any zinc that shows up in the cell is immediately taken away, to work reactions in the cell, to bind to proteins such as Zur or ZntR or, if no zinc is needed, to be sent packing out of the cell."


'"/>

Contact: Megan Fellman
fellman@northwestern.edu
847-491-3115
Northwestern University
6-Jun-2001


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Chemists at four pharmaceutical companies named Heroes for treating childhood conditions
2. Chemists unlock secret to activating tumor suppressor gene
3. Chemists create unusual lariat RNA, a key intermediate in biological splicing
4. American Institute of Chemists names Ralph Hirschmann AIC Gold Medalist
5. Chemists explore the shape of the key that signals cell division in cancer cells
6. Nanoencapsulation: Chemists at TSRI discover a new and simple way of controlling reactions
7. Chemists spin materials to improve magnetic resonance data
8. Chemists describe "zipper teeth" of DNA molecules -- publish results in the journal Nature
9. Chemists report new approach to synthetic fragments of medically important Heparin
10. Chemists hold national meeting August 22-26
11. Chemists hold national meeting August 22-26 in New Orleans

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Chemists characterize regulators zinc intake and export cells

(Date:6/18/2013)... has awarded $12.7 million to match nine academic ... compounds to explore new treatments for patients in ... dystrophy and schizophrenia. The collaborative pilot initiative, called ... led by the National Center for Advancing Translational ... Fund. , The process of developing a new ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... of breast and ovarian cancers are familial in origin, ... to inherited mutations from the parents in genes such ... PARP inhibitors, which are currently in clinical trials, have ... for personalised cancer treatment, an alternative to standard chemotherapy. ... these patients generate resistance to the drug and, therefore, ...
(Date:6/17/2013)... in the U.S. exposed to high levels of air pollution ... a child with autism as women who lived in areas ... School of Public Health (HSPH). It is the first large ... across the U.S. , "Our findings raise concerns since, depending ... our study lived in areas where risk of autism was ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 2NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 3NIH to fund collaborations with industry to identify new uses for existing compounds 4An article in 'Cell' reveals a new resistance mechanism to chemotherapy in breast and ovarian cancer 2Exposure to high pollution levels during pregnancy may increase risk of having child with autism 2
(Date:6/18/2013)... -- RegeneCure announced today the start ... Bone Regeneration (GBR) Dental Membrane as a bone stimulating aid ... encountered when patients have a tooth replaced with a dental ... the implant. Consequently there is often a need to support ... regenerates. The bone substitute material, in turn, needs to be ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... , June 18, 2013 ... investment research firm, announces the initiation of ... French biopharmaceutical company developing and marketing products ... indications.      (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130417/608168) ... report examining the investment merits of BioAlliance ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... June 18, 2013 Mapi Pharma Ltd. ... and innovative intermediates, and finished dosage forms based on selected ... granted a United States patent for ... Europe for the oral treatment of moderate-to-severe acute ... Intermediate Compounds and Processes for the Preparation of Tapentadol ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... DUBLIN , June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5g3rx5/dna_sequencing ) has announced the addition of ... Markets and Companies " to their offering. ... This report briefly reviews basics of human ... their applications. Current large and small sequencers ...
Breaking Biology Technology:RegeneCure Starts Clinical Study Using Polymeric Bone Stimulating Membrane for Dental Implants 2RegeneCure Starts Clinical Study Using Polymeric Bone Stimulating Membrane for Dental Implants 3Edison Expands French Healthcare Sector Coverage With Initiation of Coverage on BioAlliance Pharma 2Edison Expands French Healthcare Sector Coverage With Initiation of Coverage on BioAlliance Pharma 3Mapi Pharma Granted United States Patent for Pain Relief Medication "Tapentadol" 2DNA Sequencing: Technologies, Markets and Companies - 2013 Report 2
Cached News: