Chelators And Heavy Metal Toxicity Flashcards
Which metals are good for the body
Iron
Copper
Zinc
Found in hemoglobin, myoglobin, CYP450-heme containing
Iron
Found in enzymes, hair, elastic tissue, bone
Copper
Found in over 300 enzymes including those for gene expression
Zinc
Found among mitochondrial enzymes
Manganese
What are bad metals
Deficiency or overdose of good metals
Exposure to:
Lead
Mercury
Arsenic
What are general toxicity of metals
Inhibit enzyme activity by binding to SH groups
Interfere with essential cations such as Ca2+, Fe3+, Zn2+
Alter the structure of plasma membrane and receptors
Which metal induce reactive oxygen species
Iron
Where does lead act in the body
Blood
Nervous system
Kidneys
Reproductive organs
Where does arsenic act in the body
Lung
Skin
Liver
Kidney
Bladder
Where does mercury act in the body
CNS
GI
Kidney
What are the symptoms of lead toxicity
Headache
Fatigue
Cramps
Flulike symptoms
What are the symptoms of arsenic
GI nausea
Vomiting
Cramping
Acute shock
What are the symptoms of mercury
Chemical pneumonia is
Pulmonary edema
Acute neurological
What is the kinetics and dynamics of lead
Slow oral with slow clearance
Goes to the bone
What is the kinetics and dynamics of arsenic
Good GI absorption
Goes to hair and nails
What is the kinetics and dynamics of mercury
Variable absorption based on chemical
Widely distributed
Goes to fatty tissues
What is the treatment of metal toxicity
Chelators
By what general mechanism does chelators arrest metals
Formation of stable covalent bonds with cation metals using two or more electronegative groups
Efficiency of chelators is dependent on what factor?
Number of ligand binding sites (the more the better)
Can be mono, bi, or polyadenylate
Which functional groups can bind metals
SH
OH
NH
What is unique about these functional groups
They prevent metals from binding to similar functional groups of proteins
What is a major draw back of chelators
It is non-specific and can chelate good metals making it the main cause for toxicity
What should you keep in mind when considering choosing chelators
It is easier to chelate when metals are in blood vessels than in less vascularized tissue such as bone matrix (lead)