Low-mass zinc pools in Escherichia coli: Micromolar concentrations, diverse compositions, and Zn-glutathione dominating under Zn-replete conditions.

ABSTRACT: Most zinc in cells is bound to proteins, but a tiny portion is bound to non-proteinaceous Zn complexes coordinated by unidentified metabolites. Such low-mass pools likely play a central role in Zn homeostasis in cells, yet their chemical compositions and concentrations are unestablished. Previous investigations suggest that the collective Zn concentration of so-called "free" or "labile" pools is femtomolar to picomolar. Here the low-mass Zn pool in Escherichia coli was investigated by isolating cytoplasm from cells grown in media supplemented with increasing concentrations of Zn(acetate)₂. Gentle cell lysis was demonstrated using Mössbauer spectroscopy. Corresponding isolated cytoplasm contained increasing concentrations of Zn. Equivalent samples were subjected to liquid chromat

SUBMITTER: Kreinbrink AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12329115 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature