6th February 2024

Metalloproteins

Metalloprotein is a broad term applied to any protein which contains a metal ion cofactor. A large number of proteins fall under this category. For example, around 1,000 out of 20,000 human proteins contain zinc-binding domains.

Many physiological processes rely on metalloproteins, such as insulin biosynthesis, respiration, and nerve transmission. A particularly important metalloprotein is haemoglobin, which contains iron.