Metal model mimics metalloenzymes
Monday, August 12, 2013 - 08:00
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org) —Metal ions play critical roles throughout biochemistry, often facilitating the cleavage of the bond between the two atoms in an oxygen molecule in metalloenzymes. They are the key to oxidizing organic molecules and, in the case of photosynthesis, water. An international team of scientists carrying out research at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science's Advanced Photon Source (APS) has homed in on the role of metal ions in a wide range of biological processes, from metabolism to photosynthesis. Their published results were the cover article for the May 1, 2013, issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.