Competition between iron(III)-selective chelators and zinc-finger domains for zinc(II)

Many iron(III)-selective chelators possess an appreciable affinity for zinc(II) and this can prove to be undesirable when such chelators are being assessed for clinical application. At present, there is no useful test available which can reliably access this problem. In the present manuscript, we provide evidence that indicates that a zinc-finger protein MTF-1, (metal transcription factor-1) may prove to be a suitable candidate. N,N',2-hydroxybenzyl ethylenediamine diacetic acid, in contrast to desferrioxamine, removes zinc quite efficiently from MTF-1.