Zinc-catalyzed sulfur alkylation: insights from protein farnesyltransferase

Zinc metalloenzymes catalyze many important cellular reactions. Recently, t he involvement of zinc in the catalysis of alkylation of sulfur groups has gained prominence. Current studies of the zinc metalloenzyme protein farnes yltransferase have shed light on its structure and catalytic mechanism, as well as the general mechanism of zinc-catalyzed sulfur alkylation.