Publications [#232667] of Katherine J. Franz

Journal Articles

  1. Alies, B; Wiener, JD; Franz, KJ, "A prochelator peptide designed to use heterometallic cooperativity to enhance metal ion affinity.", Chem. Sci.June,, 2015, 6(6), 3606-3610 [doi].
    (last updated on 2023/01/01)

    Abstract:
    A peptide has been designed so that its chelating affinity for one type of metal ion regulates its affinity for a second, different type of metal ion. The prochelator peptide (PCP), which is a fusion of motifs evocative of calcium loops and zinc fingers, forms a 1 : 2 Zn : peptide complex at pH 7.4 that increases its affinity for Zn2+ ∼3-fold in the presence of Tb3+ (log β2 from 13.8 to 14.3), while the 1 : 1 luminescent complex with Tb3+ is brighter, longer lived, and 20-fold tighter in the presence of Zn2+ (log K from 6.2 to 7.5). This unique example of cooperative, heterometallic allostery in a biologically compatible construct suggests the possibility of designing conditionally active metal-binding agents that could respond to dynamic changes in cellular metal status.