Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important hydrolytic enzymes with profound physiological and pathological functions in living organisms. MMPs are produced in their inactive zymogenic forms, which are subsequently proteolytically activated in an elaborate set of events. The propeptide in the zymogen blocks the active site, with a cysteine side-chain thiolate from this propeptide achieving c...

meso -2,6-Dichlorophenyltripyrrinone (TPN-Cl 2 ), a probe molecule for zinc II ions, is dispersed in a polymer host. The red fl uorescence peak at 620 nm appears when the molecule forms a complex with zinc at its center. TPNCl 2 has a high selectivity for zinc II and tolerates many common metal ions present in the human body. The probe molecules are blended with a hydrogel polymer, poly(2-hydro...

Abstract Amyloid plaques consisting of aggregated A� peptide are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Among the different forms of A�, the one of 42aa length (A�42) is most aggregation-prone and also the most neurotoxic. We find that eye-specific expression of human A�42 in Drosophila results in a degeneration of eye structures that progresses with age. Dietary supplements of zinc or copper ions ...

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by NO synthase (NOS) in many cells and plays important roles in the neuronal, muscular, cardiovascular, and immune systems. In various disease conditions, all three types of NOS (neuronal, inducible, and endothelial) are reported to generate oxidants through unknown mechanisms. We present here the first evidence that peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) releases zinc from the z...

The behaviour of materials is governed by the surrounding environment. The contact area between the material and the surrounding environment is the likely spot where different forms of degradation, particularly rust, may be generated. A rust prevention treatment, like bluing, inhibitors, humidity control, coatings, and galvanization, will be necessary. The galvanization process aims to protect ...

The spectra of the a, ,, and -y forms of zinc monoarsanilazotyrosine-248 carboxypeptidase A are indistinguishable. At pH 8.2 their crystals are yellow, while their solutions are red, Xmax 510 nm. Absorption and circular dichroism-pH titrations of the modified zinc and apoenzymes demonstrate that the absorption band at 510 nm is due to a complex between arsanilazotyrosine248 and the active-site ...

The Xenopus 5S RNA gene-specific transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) has nine consecutive Cys2His2 zinc finger motifs. Studies were conducted in vivo to determine the contribution of each of the nine zinc fingers to the activity of TFIIIA in living cells. Nine separate TFIIIA mutants were expressed in Xenopus embryos following microinjection of their respective in vitro-derived mRNAs. Each mutan...