JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry

Abstract Iron–sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are ubiquitous as redox-active protein cofactors, but it is often difficult to collect protein structures in which redox centres are in uniform and well-defined oxidation states. Using spinach ferredoxin I (Fdx) as a model redox protein, we demonstrate an integrated methodological pathway for electrochemical modulation of redox state in protein crystals couple…

Arsenic is a dual-natured element, functioning as both a carcinogen and a therapeutic agent in cancer treatment. Arsenic trioxide is a clinically approved drug for acute promyelocytic leukaemia, administered either alone or in combination with all-trans retinoic acid. Additionally, arsenic trioxide and organic arsenic compounds, such as darinaparsin, show promising efficacy against various cancer…

This extended essay describes the development of protein film electrochemistry (PFE) as a powerful suite of techniques for investigating how electron-transfer processes occurring in biological molecules are coupled to chemical reactions. Based on the author’s personal experiences, the article explores the wider picture through connections to related work and other scientific areas, as well as hyp…

Genetic analyses have identified biallelic variants in the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase-like (HPDL) gene as the cause of a neurodegenerative disease that resembles the primary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency syndromes. HPDL is structurally similar to the well-studied 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), an iron(II)/α-ketoacid-dependent enzyme. HPPD is known to catalyze the second s…

In 2021, neutron structures of oxidised and reduced human manganese superoxide dismutase were published, suggesting several unexpected features, including deprotonated glutamate, tyrosine and histidine residues and a reduced Mn ion with two hydroxide ligands. We have used quantum refinement to evaluate whether alternative interpretations of the structures are possible, comparing many structural m…

Mitochondria are organelles whose function and dynamics, that is fission, fusion, transport and selective removal (mitophagy), are fundamental for eukaryotic cells. Their dysfunction is associated with age-related neurodegeneration and the aging immune system. MitoNEET, an iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster-containing protein localised at the outer membrane of mitochondria, has emerged as a key regulator…

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by brain aggregates of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and Tau tangles. Despite extensive research, effective therapy for AD remains elusive. Polyoxometalates (POMs), a class of inorganic compounds with diverse chemical structures and properties, are emerging as potential candidates for AD treatment due to their ability to …