Trace Metal Element Metabolism in Biological Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Metals such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) are essential for life because they are required in a multitude of biological processes. These metals are critical to maintain diverse biochemical and physiological functions in living organisms with moderate concentrations, and an increasing amount of evidence has indicated that either deficiency or excess, and their misplacement may cause physiological defects, disordered metabolism pathways, and a series of diseases such as human Friedreich’s ataxia, neurodegenerative disease or cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer and kidney tumors, etc. Enhanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying metals metabolism in both normal and pathophysiological conditions is crucial not only for the discovery of novel targets able to modulate these processes, but also the development of effective therapeutic strategies or compounds, to ultimately ameliorate or prevent the associated diseases. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metals contributing to these disorders are largely unclear at present.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiology and pathophysiology of metal homeostasis, especially for metal roles in keeping regular biological metabolism pathways, and their dys-homeostasis-induced disordered metabolism pathway. The content will include molecular mechanisms of metal homeostasis, the contacts between them and the relationship between metals and diseases, multi-biological interactions, and it will bring together different disciplines of metals to uncover their internal laws in but not limited to human neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, plant disease, and epidemic disease.

Prof. Dr. Minglin Lang
Prof. Dr. Guiran Xiao
Guest Editors

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