Divalent Cations: A Molecular Glue for Protein Materials
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Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR
Published on: December 16, 2013
Hèctor López-Laguna1, Julieta Sánchez2, Ugutz Unzueta3
1Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Among inorganic materials, divalent cations modulate thousands of physiological processes that support life. Their roles in protein assembly and aggregation are less known, although they are progressively being brought to light. We review the structural roles of divalent cations here, as well as the novel protein materials that are under development, in which they are used as glue-like agents. More specifically, we discuss how mechanically stable nanoparticles, fibers, matrices, and hydrogels are generated through their coordination with histidine-rich proteins. We also describe how the rational use of divalent cations combined with simple protein engineering offers unexpected and very simple biochemical approaches to biomaterial design that might address unmet clinical needs in precision medicine.
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