Zinc-binding proteins: new perspectives on their roles in health and disease and in biotechnological applications

Zinc-binding proteins are crucial macromolecules that specifically bind zinc ions, playing vital roles in structural stabilization, enzymatic activity, and transcriptional regulation, as well as DNA damage repair and metal detoxification. These proteins are essential in various human biological processes, including immune function, where zinc's role in interactions with proteins like α-2 macroglobulin is critical. Due to their involvement in numerous pathways, zinc-binding proteins are implicated in a wide range of human diseases, including neurological disorders, cancer, and resistance to antimicrobial agents. Moreover, zinc-dependent enzymes are harnessed for biotechnological applications through modifications like metal substitutions, presenting various unexplored prospects for advancing therapeutic interventions.
This Research Topic aims to address key questions around the roles of zinc-binding proteins in biological activities and their potential as therapeutic targets. It seeks to explore the structural and catalytic mechanisms underlying the functions of these proteins and investigate the impact of metal ion substitutions, such as replacing zinc with cobalt. The objective is to enhance understanding and inform drug development efforts targeting these proteins for treating neurological disorders, cancer, and antimicrobial resistance. This exploration encompasses structural analyses and inhibitor design, emphasizing opportunities for effective therapeutic advancements. Furthermore, it examines the implications of zinc-dependent enzymes in drug resistance, particularly their role in antibiotic resistance through enzymes like Metallo-beta-lactamases, which pose significant challenges to global healthcare.
To gather further insights into zinc-binding proteins in human biology and their applications, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Unveiling the biological roles of zinc-binding proteins in human diseases
- Spectroscopic and structural investigations of zinc-binding proteins
- Zinc finger proteins and their involvement in DNA binding, RNA processing, and transcriptional regulation
- Functional and mechanistic studies of zinc-dependent enzymes
- Targeting Zn-enzymes for novel drug development for human diseases
- Investigation of Zn-dependent enzymes in drug resistance mechanisms
- Exploring metal substitution in zinc-dependent enzymes for biotechnological advancements
- Regulation of zinc homeostasis and its impact on zinc-binding protein function in health and disease
- Investigating the role of zinc-binding proteins in neurological function and neurodegenerative diseases
- Role of zinc-binding proteins in immune system regulation and inflammation.
- Engineering zinc-binding proteins or motifs for synthetic biology and nanotechnology.
- Emerging techniques in computational modelling, machine learning, and high-throughput screening for studying zinc-binding proteins.

We encourage contributions in the form of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, brief research reports, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: zinc, metallo-proteins, inhibitors, structure, function, mechanism of action, modulators, metal-substitutions, drug resistance, immune system regulation, inflammation, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, biotechnological advancements, biotechnological applications

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.