Metalloproteins

Dear Colleagues,

Metal ions play a very important role in functioning of all biological systems, without any exceptions,. All biological processes occur, even when only in the background of high concentrations of metal ions and some directly depend on metal ions. Specific interactions of metal ions with biopolymers and, firstly, with proteins, play a critical role. Ten to thirteen metals are vitally important for living organisms: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Cu, Ni, V, W, Mo. Metal ions are also essential in proteins: structural, regulatory, and enzymatic. The binding of some metal ions increases stability of proteins or protein domains. Some metal ions can regulate various cell processes as first, second or third messengers. Some others, especially transition metal ions, take part in the catalysis process in many enzymes. They are further an integral part of many enzymes and are indispensable in several catalytic reactions, e.g., hydrolytic, redox and isomerization reactions. In particular, transition metals, such as Fe, Cu, and Mn, are involved in many redox processes requiring electron transfer. Alkali and alkaline earth ions, especially Na(I), K(I), and Ca(II), play a vital role in triggering cellular responses. Metal ions are increasingly studied by researchers due to their involvement in many pathological processes. In spite of the fact that many metal binding proteins are well studied, a detailed study of structural, physico-chemical and functional properties of metal binding proteins and their interactions is still an important and ongoing task in modern biology. The Special Issue of Molecules aims to identify and review the latest achievements in the area of studies of metal binding proteins: their structure, properties and functions.

Prof. Dr. Eugene Permyakov
Dr. Sergey Permyakov
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.