Researchers make significant breakthrough in protein-metal connection studies
In a groundbreaking study led by Professor Nigel Robinson at the University of East Anglia, researchers have made a discovery that could revolutionise the design and engineering of biological systems. The research, published in the latest issue of Nature Communications, highlights the importance of carefully controlling metal availability when designing such systems.
The discovery involves a way to predict and control how proteins inside cells bind to metals, an essential process for life. Metals such as iron, manganese, and cobalt are crucial for many biological processes, helping proteins carry out vital functions in cells.
In experiments, the manganese-binding protein was placed inside E. coli bacteria and mistakenly bound to iron instead of manganese. This finding underscores the challenges scientists have long faced in understanding how proteins select the right metal inside cells. However, the new study offers a solution.
The team has developed a tool, referred to as a metalation calculator, based on their findings. This calculator could potentially be used to design proteins that specifically bind to certain metals in specific environments. By studying how it interacts with different metals, the researchers have demonstrated that they can accurately predict which metals proteins will bind to in various environments.
The metalation calculator developed by the researchers uses data from cells' own metal sensors to predict protein behaviour. This discovery is important because when proteins are introduced into cells with different metal levels, they can sometimes bind to the wrong metal, which may impact their function.
The research has significant applications for industries relying on engineered biological processes, such as pharmaceutical development, industrial enzyme production, and green technologies. The solution involves using a special protein that acts as a metal trap, originally found in cyanobacteria (a type of photosynthetic bacteria).
The findings open possibilities for creating more efficient and sustainable biological systems in fields like medicine, environmental science, and sustainable manufacturing. The Department of Biosciences at the University of East Anglia, where the research took place, is ranked fifth in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2025.
Interested in studying at Durham? Explore undergraduate and postgraduate courses available at the Department of Biosciences. For more information, visit the Biosciences webpages.
The research team includes Professor Nigel Robinson, Dr Sophie Clough, Dr Tessa Young, Dr Emma Tarrant, Andrew Scott, Dr Peter Chivers, and Arthur Glasfeld. Read the full paper published in Nature Communications and a blog by the authors on Decoding protein metalation and mis-metalation.
This research was made possible through funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The potential implications of this discovery are vast, and it is an exciting time for the field of biological systems design.
