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Zinc Binds To Protein

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How does zinc binds to proteins?
Zinc coordinates proteins with four different surroundings with different roles: catalytic, co-catalytic, structural and interface. In many proteins Zn2+ ions also serve to correct polypeptide folding. Furthermore, zinc is a cofactor in all six enzyme classes.
Zinc ions in protein interface may influence the formation of stable quaternary structures, as in the case of hexameric insulin, which is formed from three protein dimers and two Zn2+ ions. As has been said, zinc coordination in proteins varies widely, with a strong preference for histidine, cysteine, aspartate and glutamate. Despite these different coordination surroundings, proteins have high affinity towards zinc ions. (6)
Zinc coordination spheres

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