Transition metals

Transition metals, including iron, copper, zinc, and manganese, are essential elements that function primarily as cofactors for a wide array of enzymes and proteins (Waldron et al., 2009 [Nature]). They are indispensable for biological processes such as cellular respiration, oxygen transport via hemoglobin, and the structural integrity of transcription factors like zinc-finger proteins (Andreini et al., 2008 [Bioinformatics]). Because of their ability to catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species through redox reactions, their levels are strictly regulated by specialized transport and storage proteins (Crichton, 2016 [Transition Metals in Biology]). Clinical disorders arise from both deficiency and overload, such as iron-deficiency anemia, hemochromatosis, and Wilson's disease (NIH, 2023 [NIDDK]). Therapeutic strategies often involve chelating agents like deferoxamine or penicillamine, which bind excess metal ions to facilitate their excretion (StatPearls, 2023 [Chelating Agents]). Additionally, certain transition metals like platinum are utilized as the core of chemotherapeutic agents to disrupt cancer cell replication (PubChem, 2024 [Cisplatin]). While not traditional drug targets like receptors, their concentration and localization are tightly regulated and therapeutically manipulated to treat toxicity and metabolic imbalances.

Other names

d-block elementsTransition elementsHeavy metals (subset)Trace metallic elements

Drugs targeting transition metals primarily act through chelation, where the drug molecule binds to the metal ion to form a stable, water-soluble complex that can be safely excreted by the kidneys or liver (StatPearls, 2023). In cases of deficiency, transition metals are administered as salts or complexes to restore physiological levels. Furthermore, transition metal complexes like cisplatin act by binding to DNA, causing cross-linking that inhibits replication and triggers apoptosis in malignant cells (PubChem, 2024).