Zinc-dependent enzyme systems

Zinc-dependent enzyme systems are a large and functionally diverse group of enzymes that rely on zinc ions for catalytic activity or structural integrity. Zinc acts either as a catalytic cofactor, facilitating chemical reactions, or as a structural element, stabilizing protein domains such as zinc finger motifs. Examples include carbonic anhydrase, alcohol dehydrogenase, metalloproteinases, alkaline phosphatases, and cytosine deaminase. Zinc-dependent enzymes participate in core biological processes, including metabolism, DNA synthesis, signal transduction, and gene expression regulation. Dysfunction or abnormal regulation of these enzymes is implicated in various diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and infections. Since this term denotes a class rather than a unique molecular entity, it is not a direct therapeutic target but rather a category encompassing many clinically relevant targets[4][5][7][8].

Other names

Zinc-dependent enzymesZinc metalloenzymes

Enzyme inhibition (many drugs act as inhibitors of specific zinc-dependent enzymes, e.g., ACE inhibitors, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors)[8] Metal chelation (some drugs act by chelating zinc and inhibiting enzyme activity)