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Chemistry

The Role of Active Site Metal Ions in Metalloprotease Catalytic Mechanisms

Quick fact

Many metalloproteases use a zinc ion that not only binds the water molecule that attacks the peptide bond but also lowers the pKa of water from ~14 to ~7, making water a potent nucleophile at physiological pH.

Why this is interesting

Every protein in your body is built strong, yet some enzymes can tear a peptide bond apart in milliseconds. What makes that possible? The secret is a single metal ion sitting at the heart of the enzyme.