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Zinc fingers help read DNA sequences.. Zinc is an essential trace element for humans [1] [2] [3] and other animals, [4] for plants [5] and for microorganisms. [6] Zinc is required for the function of over 300 enzymes and 1000 transcription factors, [3] and is stored and transferred in metallothioneins.
A zinc finger is a small protein structural motif that is characterized by the coordination of one or more zinc ions (Zn 2+) which stabilizes the fold. The term zinc finger was originally coined to describe the finger-like appearance of a hypothesized structure from the African clawed frog ( Xenopus laevis ) transcription factor IIIA .
Zinc is a chemical element with the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic table .
The formal oxidation state of the oxygen atoms is − 1 ⁄ 2. In solutions at neutral pH, the superoxide ion disproportionates to molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. 2 O − 2 + 2 H + → O 2 + H 2 O 2. In biology this type of reaction is called a dismutation reaction. It involves both oxidation and reduction of superoxide ions.
For example, terpyridine, which is a tridentate ligand forms the complex [Zn(terpy)Cl 2]. Another example would involve a tripodal ligand such as Tris(2-aminoethyl)amine. Square pyramidal 5-coordinate Zinc is found in Tetra(4-pyridyl)porphinatomonopyridinezinc(II) [ 19 ] Solution studies of other 5-coordinate Zinc porphyrins have been reported.
In molecular biology, a RING (short for Really Interesting New Gene) finger domain is a protein structural domain of zinc finger type which contains a C 3 HC 4 amino acid motif which binds two zinc cations (seven cysteines and one histidine arranged non-consecutively).
Examples include iron, essential to hemoglobin; and magnesium, essential to chlorophyll. Some elements are essential only to certain taxonomic groups of organisms, particularly the prokaryotes. For instance, the lanthanide series rare earths are essential for methanogens. As shown in the following table, there is strong evidence that 19 of the ...
These binding sites use these zinc ions as a stabilizer to protein folds, making these protein motifs more rigid in structure. These structures include zinc fingers, and have several different conformations. [2] K + – potassium ions' main function in animals is osmotic balance, particularly in the kidneys. (See Hypokalemia.)