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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
Zinc(II)-regulation of hydrazone switch isomerization kinetics
1Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College , Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, United States.
Abstract:
The extra H-bond in a bipyridyl-functionalized hydrazone rotary switch slows down its Z→E isomerization rate by 2 orders of magnitude (k = (3.5 ± 0.2) × 10(-6) s(-1)). The coordination of Zn(2+) with the bipyridyl subgroup simultaneously 'unlocks' this H-bond and accelerates the isomerization rate by at least 6 orders of magnitude (k > 6.9 s(-1)). This coordination-regulated kinetic control could open the way to molecular timers that can be used in guiding temporal events.
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