The biochemistry of lanthanide acquisition, trafficking, and utilization

Lanthanides are relative newcomers to the field of cell biology metals; their specific incorporation into enzymes was only demonstrated in 2011, with isolation a bacterial lanthanide- and pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent methanol dehydrogenase. Since that discovery, efforts many investigators have revealed lanthanide utilization is widespread environmentally important bacteria, parallel focused on elucidating molecular details involved selective recognition these metals. In this review, we discuss particular chemical challenges advantages associated biology's use lanthanides, as well currently known lanthano-enzymes -proteins (the lanthanome). We also review emerging understanding coordination chemistry acquisition, trafficking, regulatory pathways. These studies significant parallels pathways for other metals biology. Finally, some unresolved questions burgeoning potentially far-reaching applications.