Metals and biological systems

Many enzymes and systems depend on metal ions, such as zinc, iron, and copper, for proper function. These include proteases (active site function), hemoglobins (carrying oxygen), cytochromes (electron transfer), free radical control, and metal ion storage. Chelators sequester metal ions, offering a way to control or block these functions, which can be useful in infectious disease, wound healing, and heavy metal poisoning, and research in metal-dependent processes such as ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and oxidative stress.

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