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+ Enzymes
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Matt

What is the effect of metal ions on enzyme activity?

Daisy Mcbride  Follow

As mentioned in another answer, it certainly depends on which metal and which enzyme you are referring to. However, due to the fact that most transition metal ions can form complexes, they can certainly modify their structure, even inhibiting their activity. In fact, you could divide inhibitors in three big categories:

  1. Complexes that have a a metal center but which does not coordinate directly to enzymes, but their ligands can (in this case it’s not the metal ion).
  2. Complexes in which only the metal ion interacts with the enzymes, but their ligands are not bioactive. (In this case, it’s only because of the metal ion).
  3. Complexes in which both the metal and its ligands are active (biologically speaking).

Most metal ions that can inhibit enzyme activity are “soft metals”, such as platinum, gold and ruthenium. If you want to read more, I suggest the following resource:

Enzyme inhibition by metal complexes: concepts, strategies and applications

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Barry Ford  Follow

Metal ions are essential for the catalytic action of some enzymes. Metal ions contribute to the catalytic process through their ability to attract or donate electrons. Some metals bind the substrate by coordination links. Others contribute to maintain the tertiary and quaternary structures of the enzyme molecule.

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