News / Twitter
Sensing the difference between the elements
(1 December 2017)

About a half of the reactions of life are catalysed by metals and a paper out today in Nature Communications from the Robinson lab at Durham University discovers how cells discern one metal from another. Metal sensing helps metalloproteins to bind the right metals. Implications and applications of understanding and manipulating protein metalation are supported by an Industry-Academia network led from the Universities of Durham and Kent in the UK (Metals in Biology BBSRC NIBB, award BB/L013711/1).
A blog on Nature Microbiology Community describes the latest paper.
New data and calculations show that for cells to discern between metals there must be fine control of the metal concentrations inside cells, and this control is susceptible to subversion. This is thought to be a microbial ‘Achilles heel’ explaining why metals, chelants and ionophores have so often been chosen, albeit empirically, as antimicrobials in agriculture, consumer goods and healthcare, plus indeed by evolution in so-called nutritional immunity. The work is a collaboration between Bioscientists and Chemists at Durham University along with Industry researchers at Procter and Gamble, funded by the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC Industrial Partnership award BB/J017787/1).
For more information contact Deenah Osman: deenah.osman@durham.ac.uk
- RT @thecopperdoctor: Dear Durham, please be like this every day. Thanks. (This is outside @DurhamChemistry) https://t.co/vZzh8AR0nB
Tweeted 2 days ago - Excellent news Steven! Congratulations... https://t.co/tu6o6kEDnk
Tweeted 3 days ago - RT @CRB_Peptides: Congratulations @cobb_group @DurhamChemistry #mdpimolecules Antimicrobial Peptides and Peptidomimetics https://t.co/JItPB…
Tweeted 3 days ago - RT @JacquieRobson: Good luck to @DurhamChemistry PGs @jpsmith368 and Jess Andrews who are pitching to the @durham_uni PVCs on 24/4/18 in a…
Tweeted 4 days ago - RT @ehmke_pohl: Welcome @DurhamChemistry, Dr. Francine Perler, key advisor of the @virus_x_team and keynote speaker on Friday @Durham_BSI h…
Tweeted 4 days ago - We think the new face is that of Associate Professor Steven Cobb @Cobb_Group on the chemical biology section of the… https://t.co/c14xAOuQel
Tweeted 4 days ago - https://t.co/aTK6Mamo23
Tweeted 4 days ago - RT @thecopperdoctor: Thank you @Durham_BSI for awarding us a summer studentship to develop metallo-lactamase inhibitors! @DurBiol collabor…
Tweeted 5 days ago - RT @LEMacKz: 3D printed model of human serum albumin for a project student @DurhamChemistry #3Dprinting https://t.co/MMB6QKP6A1
Tweeted 5 days ago - RT @penfold_thomas: Latest results from collaboration with Bryce group @DurhamChemistry and @OEM_Durham. Triplet harvesting in organic emit…
Tweeted 5 days ago