Themed collection Chemical Biology of Metals

Angela Casini (Technical University of Munich, Germany), Hui Chao (Sun Yat-Sen University, China), Hongzhe Sun (University of Hong Kong, China), and Christopher J. Chang (University of California, Berkeley, United States) introduce the themed collection on ‘Chemical biology of metals’.

Metal ions are implicated in many proteinopathies. Three case studies are discussed to address how copper binding impacts protein folding and aggregation, and its relevance in understanding the polymorphic nature of the aggregates related to disease.

This review offers a concise overview of platinum-based anticancer complexes targeting various organelles, aiming to overcome the limitations of existing platinum drugs.

This review describes how transition metal ions induce the conformational and functional changes of neurotransmitters.

A competitive activity-based protein profiling strategy was developed to identify cisplatin-binding cysteines in MCF-7 proteomes, among which cisplatin-binding sites in GLRX1, TXNDC17 and MetAP1 were biochemically verified.

A meta-analysis of 22 persulfide-specific proteomics datasets reveals widespread persulfidation of zinc finger proteins across various species, highlighting the role of persulfidation as an important post-translational modification.

We report an AIE-based monofunctional Pt(II) complex with increased singlet oxygen production and negligible dark toxicity. This enters cells via endocytosis, accumulates in lysosomes and produces ROS under light irradiation, causing FSP1-downregulation and cell death by ferroptosis and necroptosis.

Two resins with the hydroxamic acid siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB) immobilised as a free ligand or its Fe(III) complex prepared to screen the Streptomyces pilosus proteome for proteins involved in siderophore-mediated Fe(III) uptake enriched for Ni(II)-superoxide dismutase on the apo-DFOB resin.

A novel click-capable oxaliplatin mimic as a tool to study Pt(II)-induced nucleolar stress.

A gallium compound shows strong antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa while being low in cytotoxicity. It eradicates the pathogen by targeting quorum sensing and iron metabolism pathways, making it a “dual-action” antibacterial agent.

The mammalian protein siderocalin binds hydroxypyridinone complexes of trivalent rare-earth metals and f-elements through cation-π and electrostatic interactions. It can also be fused with biological vectors for the targeted delivery of imaging and therapeutic radionuclides.

Structural changes due to metalation of the ATCUN motif of piscidins embedded in lipid bilayers are revealed through molecular dynamics simulations.

A new gold(I)-based therapeutic strategy to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Prostate specific antigen binding Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) were selected and C-terminally conjugated for Gallium-68 radiolabelling. Two of the developed tracers showed specific uptake in mouse prostate tumour models.

This work describes successful radiochemical labeling and subsequent in vivo evaluation of radiolanthanide-tagged versions of lanmodulin (LanM), a lathanide-binding protein.

Phenanthriplatin forms DNA mono-adducts and induces ribosome biogenesis stress. Using a semi-rational strategy, Ru(II) complexes were created that act as biological mimics of phenanthriplatin with improved properties.

Oxytocin and a library of analogs show metal-dependent modulation of MAPK activation in oxytocin-receptor-expressing HEK293 cells.

We have investigated the biological properties of the osmium analogue of a potent ruthenium-based mitochondrial calcium uniporter inhibitor and have found it to possess distinct properties.