Metalloproteins - Encyclopedia Of

Published by Springer Nature in 2013, the work aims to exhaustively cover the interaction between proteins and metal ions. Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins | Springer Nature Link

: It documents the massive Nitrogenase complexes—containing up to 38 atoms of iron—that allow plants to "breathe" nitrogen from the air, a process essential for all food on Earth. Technical Scope Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins

The "story" within this encyclopedia follows the evolution and function of metal-binding proteins through several key chapters of biological history: Published by Springer Nature in 2013, the work

: It details how metalloenzymes were likely the very first biological catalysts on Earth. Before complex life existed, these proteins harnessed metals like iron and nickel to perform the basic chemistry needed for life. Before complex life existed, these proteins harnessed metals

The is a monumental reference work that chronicles the "story" of life's dependency on metals . While the encyclopedia itself is a massive technical resource—spanning over 2,500 pages and edited by Robert H. Kretsinger, Vladimir N. Uversky, and Eugene A. Permyakov—it tells a biological narrative about how inanimate minerals became the engines of the living world. The Narrative of the Encyclopedia

: The encyclopedia explains the chemistry behind why blood is red in vertebrates (iron) and blue in molluscs (copper).

: The story shifts as Earth’s atmosphere changed. When photosynthesis released toxic oxygen, metalloproteins evolved to protect cells and harness that same oxygen for new functions, like respiration.