Zinc-dependent immune enzymes

Zinc-dependent immune enzymes are a large group of enzymes within the immune system that require zinc ions as essential cofactors for catalytic activity or for maintaining their structural integrity. They span multiple major enzyme classes, including kinases (e.g., protein kinase C), phosphatases (e.g., alkaline phosphatase), proteases, hydrolases (e.g., phosphodiesterases), and more. Zinc regulates key signaling pathways, such as those involved in cytokine production, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, important for both innate and adaptive immunity. Zinc-dependent enzymes also include proteins such as macrodomains that reverse ADP-ribosylation, and antimicrobial proteins like calprotectin, which sequester zinc to limit pathogen growth. Dysregulation of zinc homeostasis or zinc-dependent immunity can contribute to infection, inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. Because this heading encompasses a broad family, it is not a specific drug target but names a category containing many individual, pharmacologically relevant targets. Note: The term "Zinc-dependent immune enzymes" is not a canonical target name and is too broad for structured drug target mapping. For accurate attribution, the specific enzyme (e.g., "Protein kinase C alpha," "Alkaline phosphatase," "Calprotectin," etc.) should be identified and referenced.

Other names

Zinc-dependent enzymes (general)immune zinc enzymeszinc metalloenzymes of immunity

Inhibition or modulation of enzymatic activity by blocking zinc binding or disrupting the active site Restoration/augmentation of immune signaling by modulating zinc-dependent enzyme activity Inhibiting bacterial zinc enzymes to disrupt pathogen defense/replication