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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
Phosphate binding by a novel Zn(II) complex featuring a trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane ligand. Effective anion
Oscar Francesconi1, Matteo Gentili, Francesco Bartoli
1Dipartimento di Chimica "Ugo Schiff", Università di Firenze, Polo Scientifico e Tecnologico, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy. andrea.bencini@unifi.it.
Abstract:
In this work we have investigated the binding properties of a new synthetic receptor for phosphate anions that combines metal ion coordination with electrostatic and H-bonding interactions. The described receptor is obtained by assembling an iminodiacetic (IDA) fragment, as a Zn(II) binding site, with a polyamine macrocyclic portion containing two trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DAC) units and a pyrrole ring, as a cationic binding site, into an adaptive structure appropriately spanning the length of di- and tridentate phosphates. Potentiometric measurements together with (1)H and (31)P NMR investigation showed that, in a wide pH range including values of physiological interest, the Zn(II) complex of the receptor binds di- and triphosphates, such as ADP, ATP, pyrophosphate (PP) and triphosphate (TP), far better than monophosphate (MP), and that TP is poorly bound by methyliminodiacetate (MIDA) as a model for the Zn(II) binding site. Besides the excellent selectivity over other phosphates, the affinity for TP is the largest reported to date for Zn(II) complexes in water.
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