Welcome to our metals page!
Transition metals (copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, and many others) play many critical roles in all living organisms as they are essential constituents in a large number of biological processes. Metal control in cells requires several metal-binding molecules, transporters and sensors to prevent toxic reactions, but also to allow these elements to be used in appropriate ways. Metal intoxication is one of the most common ideas that comes to our mind when we talk about these elements. However, how organisms acquire these elements and distribute them to appropriate cellular locations and ensure proper function is subject of intense scientific interest.
In this blog a diverse group of Faculty and Students will synthesize our current knowledge of transition metals that allow adequate development of organisms, but also how the dis-regulation of these elements leads to a variety of diseases that we normally ignore.