Approaches to study Zn(II) deficiency and transport in biology

Divalent zinc, Zn(II), is an abundant and essential metal ion for human health. Across diverse biological settings, it stabilizes the structure of proteins, serves as a catalytic cofactor in enzymes with disparate functions, and mediates important signaling events. The ability of cells to apply Zn(II) in all these roles is contingent upon their ability to ensure adequate, but not excessive, Zn(II) levels. This control process, or homeostasis, is maintained by at least 24 transporters, including 14 ZIPs that increase the transition metal ion concentration of the cytosol and 10 ZnTs that decrease the transition metal ion concentration of the cytosol. Zn(II) homeostasis can be challenged either by excessive or inadequate nutritional Zn(II) or by interference of other metal ions with Zn(II) uptake transporters. Neither the molecular consequences of Zn(II) deficiency nor the molecular basis of ZIP-mediated selective metal uptake is well defined.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctoral

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Richardson, Christopher E. R.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Matthew D. Shoulders and Stephen J. Lippard.

• Chemistry.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/124049

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/124049