Metal-mediated dynamic modification of biomacromolecules

Metal-mediated dynamic modification of biomacromolecules is involved in important physiological processes such as biological signal transduction, energy conversion, and metabolic regulation. It is the basis for cell survival and plays a crucial role in the occurrence, development, diagnosis, and treatment of major human diseases. On the one hand, the binding of metal biomolecules has dynamic, multivalent, and three-dimensional characteristics, which is a unique form of dynamic modification of biomolecules and can directly affect the structure, conformation, and function of nucleic acids and proteins; on the other hand, endogenous metal ions, including cofactors such as zinc, iron, and copper, as well as exogenous metals and their complexes, can intricately affect the modification profile of biomolecules, causing changes in their phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, glycosylation, methylation, and other modification states, thereby dynamically shaping cellular responses. This article reviews the studies on dynamic modification of biomacromolecules mediated by endogenous metal homeostasis and exogenous metal intervention in recent years, and summarizes their modification mechanisms and functional regulation. It is hoped that this article can provide new research basis and inspiration for the development of dynamic modification strategies of biomacromolecules in the future.