Zinc signals are utilized by several immune cell receptors. One is TLR4, which causes an increase of free zinc ions (Zn 2+) that is required for the MyD88-dependent expression of inflammatory cytokines. This study investigates the role of Zn 2+ on Toll/IL-1R domain–containing adapter inducing IFN-b (TRIF)–dependent signals, the other major intracellular pathway activated by TLR4. Chelation of Z...

Cellular functions require adequate homeostasis of several divalent metal cations, including Mg(2+) and Zn(2+). Mg(2+), the most abundant free divalent cytoplasmic cation, is essential for many enzymatic reactions, while Zn(2+) is a structural constituent of various enzymes. Multicellular organisms have to balance not only the intake of Mg(2+) and Zn(2+), but also the distribution of these ions...

The metal ions in a neutral Zn-MOF constructed from tritopic triacid H3 L with inherent concave features, rigid core, and peripheral flexibility are found to exist in two distinct SBUs, that is, 0D and 1D. This has allowed site-selective postsynthetic metal exchange (PSME) to be investigated and reactivities of the metal ions in two different environments in coordination polymers to be contrast...

The title compound, [Zn(NO(3))(2)(C(24)H(16)N(2))(2)], is a twofold axially symmetric coordination compound. Given that the Zn-O interactions [2.4926 (15) and 2.6673 (15) Å] can be considered as weakly bonding and the nitrate ions share the same C(2) axis of the Zn(dpp)(2) fragment (dpp is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), these anions belong to the coordination sphere of Zn(2+), leading to a ...

The blueshift of near-band-edge emission and excitonic absorption indicate that Zn(2+) ions are successfully substituted by Mg(2+) ions in Mg(x)Zn(1-x)O nanopowders for 0≤x≤0.14. The changes in Raman spectral linewidth and the asymmetry of the E(2) (high) mode for various Mg contents can be well described by a modified spatial correlation model that considers the grain size distribution. With i...

Four new bimetallic coordination polymers (CPs), {M[Pt(CN)(2)(5,5'-dcbpy)]·4H(2)O}(n) (M = Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+); 5,5'-H(2)dcbpy = 5,5'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine) were synthesized using four alkaline-earth metal ions and a Pt(II)-diimine metalloligand [Pt(CN)(2)(5,5'-H(2)dcbpy)]. All four CPs are isomorphous with the Zn complex, {Zn[Pt(CN)(2)(5,5'-dcbpy)]·4H(2)O}(n), which exhibits eff...

A group of highly efficient Zn(II)-dependent RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes has been obtained through in vitro selection. They share a common motif with the '8-17' deoxyribozyme isolated under different conditions, including different design of the random pool and metal ion cofactor. We found that this commonly selected motif can efficiently cleave both RNA and DNA/RNA chimeric substrates. It can ...

Trace metal ions such as Zn(2+), Fe(2+), Cu(2+), Mn(2+), and Co(2+) are required cofactors for many essential cellular enzymes, yet little is known about the mechanisms through which they enter into cells. We have shown previously that the widely expressed ion channel TRPM7 (LTRPC7, ChaK1, TRP-PLIK) functions as a Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-permeable cation channel, whose activity is regulated by intra...

The vacuolar Zn(2+)/H(+) antiporter of Arabidopsis thaliana, AtMTP1, has a cytosolic histidine-rich loop (His-loop). We characterized the structures and Zn(2+)-binding properties of the His-loop and other domains. Circular dichroism analyses revealed that the His-loop partly consists of a polyproline type II structure and that its conformational change is induced by Zn(2+) as well as the C-term...

A new rhodamine based selective and sensitive turn-on fluorescent Zn(2+)chemosensor has been developed. A prominent fluorescence enhancement was found in the presence of Zn(2+), which was accompanied by changes in the absorption spectrum. The new sensor showed 'naked-eye' detection of Zn(2+) ions: a color change of the solution from colorless to pink. Furthermore, by means of confocal laser sca...