Proteomics of metal transport and metal-associated diseases

Proteomics technology has the potential to identify groups of proteins that have similar biological function. However, few attempts have been made to identify and characterize metal-binding proteins by using proteomics strategies. Many transition metals are essential to sustain life. Copper, iron, and zinc are the most abundant transition metals relevant to biological systems. In addition to their important biological functions, metals can also catalyze the formation of damaging free radical species. Hence, their intracellular transport is tightly regulated. Despite recent insights into the intracellular transport of copper and other metals, our overall understanding of intracellular metal metabolism remains incomplete and it is likely that many metal-binding proteins remain undiscovered. Furthermore, the protein targets for metals during metal-associated disease states or during exposure to toxic levels of environmental metals are yet to be unravelled. A proteomics strategy for the analysis of metal-transporting or metal-binding proteins has the potential to uncover how a large number of proteins function in normal or metal-associated diseased states. Here we discuss the principal aspects of metal metabolism, and the recent developments in the area of the proteomics of metal transport.