Coordination chemistry of biometals in the cell is readily studied with the help of appropriate chelators and indicators. Disease processes often involve mislocation and overload of iron, which can lead to reactive oxygen species production that damages biomolecules. We have focused on novel chelators for iron bioconjugated to organelle-targeting peptides in order to further biochemical understanding of disease pathways. New designs and syntheses of tripodal ligands to sequester iron and affect the formation of hydroxyl radical in the cell are presented. For mitochondrial targeting, several amphipathic peptides related to the Szeto-Schiller family are being studied. We report success in a peptide design that delivers an Fe(II)/Fe(III) ligand and a fluorophore to the inner membrane. The endoplasmic reticulum is also coming under study. This chemistry has a connection to ferroptosis, a relatively new programmed cell death process.

Organelle-targeted iron ligands to elucidate cellular metal metabolism and ferroptosis

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ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.