1. Introduction to Metallomics Supplementary Reading:
Mounicou, S.; Szpunar, J.; and Lobinski, R. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2009, 38,
Prof. Arthur D. Tinoco
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

2. 1. What is the metallome? Term coined by R.J.P. Williams (2001):
The entirety of metal and metalloid species in a biological environment (i.e. cell, tissue type). It also accounts for their quantity and localization in the biological environment.

3. 1. What is the metallome? Metal-Carbohydrate Coordination Complexes
Metal-DNA and RNA
Coordination Complexes
Metal(loid)-Containing
Biomolecules
Metabolites
Proteins
Coordination Complexes
and/or
Organometallic Compounds
Organic Acids
Inorganic Anions
Amino Acids/Peptides
Transport molecules
(i.e. Siderophores)
Metallodrug Metabolites
Coordination Complexes
and/or
Organometallic Compounds
Transport Proteins
Enzymes
Metal Sensing Proteins
Metallochaperones
Metal Stress Proteins

4. General Metal-binding proteins
2. Metallomics
A good way to define metallomics is by describing what it is NOT and that is aqueous speciation. It is not merely the identification of a metal (metalloid) species.
It is the revelation of the significance of a metal species in a biological context.
A study of the interactions and functional connections of metal species with genes, proteins, metabolites, and other biomolecules within organisms and ecosystems.
A study that is focused on bioactive metal-based molecules
Metalloproteins vs
General Metal-binding proteins
Metalloproteins: A protein whose function is conferred by a metal.
Metal-binding proteins: Protein with general metal binding site or capable of nonspecific binding of metals.

5. 2A. Why the need for this field?
Many metal-biomolecule complexes will not survive common extraction methods for isolating biomolecules
Typically involve the use of denaturants and chelators like EDTA
Extraction protocols suggest reconstituting enzymes with metals but no generally useful reconstitution solutions
Standard analytical approaches for “omics” studies ignore the importance of metals
Mass spectrometry is commonly used for these investigations but the typical ionization used is not applicable to metal species
- Soft ionization is best

6. 2B. Areas of Interest Biological Catalysis
Metal incorporation in enzymes based on bioavailability, redox potential, coordination chemistry preference
Biogeochemistry and environmental chemistry
Study metals in simple and complex organisms to understand evolutionary links such as adaptation of the organisms to the changing environment
Understand how organisms sense and use metals within a specific ecosystem and how they respond to environmental pollution (metal contamination)

7. 2B. Areas of Interest 3. Plant biochemistry and physiology
Understand the mobilization mechanism of low solubility metals from soil and metal uptake/transport of essentials elements
- Gives insight into improved nutrition for humans
Explore toxic level accumulation of metals in plants
4. Clinical Chemistry
Determine metal-based diseases due to nonoptimal levels of metals or mutations in genes/proteins
Detection of biomarkers
Drug metabolism

8. 2B. Areas of Interest
5. Nutrition and essential element supplementation
Characterization of the chemical forms and bioavailability of nutrients in supplements.
Biological fate

9. 2C. General Approaches to Metallomics
In vivo
Methods to analyze metal-containing biomolecules
In vitro
Methods focused on DNA and protein mutations and studying the impact this may have on the metallome
In silico (bioinformatics)
Methods focused on the connection between genome and protein sequences and metal binding and functionalization