Properties of the major Zn2+-binding site of human alpha-fetoprotein, a potential foetal plasma zinc carrier

Jin Lu; Stephen J. Hierons; Swati Arya; Remi Fritzen; Sirilata Polepalli; Siavash Khazaipoul; Alan J. Stewart; Claudia A. Blindauer

doi:10.1039/D4CC06611A

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Properties of the major Zn²⁺-binding site of human alpha-fetoprotein, a potential foetal plasma zinc carrier†

Jin Lu,‡^a Stephen J. Hierons,‡^b Swati Arya,^b Remi Fritzen,

^b Sirilata Polepalli,^a Siavash Khazaipoul,^b Alan J. Stewart

*^b and Claudia A. Blindauer

*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
E-mail: c.blindauer@warwick.ac.uk

^b School of Medicine, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
E-mail: ajs21@st-andrews.ac.uk

Abstract

The foetal plasma protein α-fetoprotein (AFP) harbours a high-affinity zinc binding site that is likely involved in transport and delivery of essential zinc during foetal development. Based on a recent electron microscopy structure of AFP and aided by biophysical studies on an AFP-derived peptide, we present a refined 5-coordinate model for this site.

This article is part of the themed collection: ChemComm 60th Anniversary Collection

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CC06611A
Article type: Communication
Submitted: 17 Dec 2024
Accepted: 25 Dec 2024
First published: 27 Dec 2024
This article is Open Access

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Chem. Commun., 2025,61, 2099-2102

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Properties of the major Zn²⁺-binding site of human alpha-fetoprotein, a potential foetal plasma zinc carrier

J. Lu, S. J. Hierons, S. Arya, R. Fritzen, S. Polepalli, S. Khazaipoul, A. J. Stewart and C. A. Blindauer, Chem. Commun., 2025, 61, 2099 DOI: 10.1039/D4CC06611A

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