The Growth Mineral
Zinc is a trace mineral that is essential for all forms of life, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. The chemical symbol for zinc is Zn. Clinical zinc deficiency was first reported in 1961, when it was discovered that certain children absorbed so little zinc that they failed to grow properly. Zinc plays important roles in growth and development, neurological function, the immune system, and in reproduction. Over 85 percent of the total body zinc is found in skeletal muscle and bone. Zinc found in blood plasma comprises only one-tenth of one percent of total body zinc.
Zinc and Enzymes
Zinc is needed for the activity of nearly 100 enzymes. Enzymes that use a metal ion such as zinc as a cofactor are called metalloenzymes. Please refer to Figure 12-1 to see how these metalloenzymes fit together. Zinc’s action as an electron acceptor
Figure 12-1 How metal ions fit into metalloenzymes.
contributes to the catalytic activity of many of these enzymes. In another role, zinc is important for the synthesis, storage, and release of insulin in the pancreas.
More about Zinc:
Zinc is a trace mineral that is essential for all forms of life, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. The chemical symbol for zinc is Zn. Clinical zinc deficiency was first reported in 1961, when it was discovered that certain children absorbed so little zinc that they failed to grow properly. Zinc plays important roles in growth and development, neurological function, the immune system, and in reproduction. Over 85 percent of the total body zinc is found in skeletal muscle and bone. Zinc found in blood plasma comprises only one-tenth of one percent of total body zinc.
Zinc and Enzymes
Zinc is needed for the activity of nearly 100 enzymes. Enzymes that use a metal ion such as zinc as a cofactor are called metalloenzymes. Please refer to Figure 12-1 to see how these metalloenzymes fit together. Zinc’s action as an electron acceptor
Figure 12-1 How metal ions fit into metalloenzymes.
contributes to the catalytic activity of many of these enzymes. In another role, zinc is important for the synthesis, storage, and release of insulin in the pancreas.
More about Zinc:
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