Themed collection Fourth International Symposium on Metallomics, Oviedo, Spain

This themed issue in Metallomics guested edited by María Montes-Bayón and Jörg Bettmer presents papers from the 4th International Conference on Metallomics, Oviedo, Spain.

A working model of the zinc–metallothionein redox cycle is proposed to be used as a therapeutic target against oxidative stress in ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration.

This minireview proposes the term “nanometallomics” and summarizes the current understanding of the pharmacokinetic behavior and the fate of metal-related nanomaterials in biota and their interaction with biomolecules.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element that is abundantly present in the brain. Despite its importance, Zn dyshomeostasis is implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases.

Retinal zinc homeostasis is dysregulated in systemic zinc depletion, aging and age-related macular degeneration. Manipulation of zinc metabolism in these situations might improve retinal function.

The reaction of Auoxo6, a dinuclear gold(III) complex, with the model protein bovine pancreatic ribonuclease is explored here by X-ray diffraction and ESI mass spectrometry.

The serum ceruloplasmin-associated copper deficiency induced by a silver-containing diet in rats can be compensated by extrahepatic ceruloplasmin synthesis if rats receive silver from birth.

Cadmium (Cd) is an important inorganic toxicant in the environment which impacts on human health.

Inorganic and organic mercury species strongly disturb a DNA damage induced signalling reaction in human astrocytes.

In yeast, the lack of mitochondrial aconitase activity determines high-zinc tolerance, which is accompanied by the alteration of several low-iron sensor signals.

Cuproproteins in cytosols of organs of a waterborne Cu-exposed pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) were studied by non-denaturing PAGE and SDS 2-DE, LA-ICP MS and μRPC-ESI-FT MS.

Subcellular localization and quantitative elemental imaging in micro-algae using SR-nXRF and electron microscopy.

Recent research efforts have highlighted the importance of glutathione (GSH) as a key antioxidant metabolite for metal tolerance in plants.

A suspension of elemental Se nanoparticles or a solution of Se(IV) was repeatedly administered by oral gavage to female rats at 0.05 or at 0.5 mg Se kg⁻¹ bw per day. After 28 days tissues and organs were collected and analysed.

Metals have a central role in biological systems, regulating numerous cellular processes, and in other cases having toxic or deleterious effects on the metabolism.

C. sorokiniana exposed to chiral forms of SeMet and MeHg⁺ indicated that D-SeMet transforms into other Se metabolites but it is not directly involved in the detoxification mechanism of MeHg⁺.

Fluorescent dyes are widely used in the detection of labile (free or exchangeable) Zn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ in living cells.

Metal dyshomeostasis is closely related to Alzheimer's disease, so the characterization of the metal profiles in these patients is of special interest for studying associated neurodegenerative processes and to discover potential markers of disease.

The Cryptococcus neoformans MTs are high-capacity Cu-thioneins built by repeated Cys-rich regions, each one probably giving rise to a Cu₅-cluster.

Zinc, iron and copper corneal and retinal distribution is non-homogenous with zinc highest levels not corresponding with those of metallothioneins.

The use of the thioether sulfur in the coordination sphere of a sensor of Ni and/or Co is unprecedented.

Three rationally designed benzothiazole and benzoxazole 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone derivatives are evaluated for their ability to bind metal ions and the amyloid-beta protein.