ICCC34 - golden edition of coordination chemistry reviews. Coordination chemistry for the neurosciences

Metal ions are integral components of numerous enzymes and proteins. Althou gh the field of bioinorganic chemistry has not focused on the brain and cen tral nervous system, metal ions are vital to many neurological functions an d are implicated in several neurological disorders. In this review. we give a brief overview of the functions of metal ions in neurobiology and the hi ghlight recent advances and uses of fluorescent sensors to study the neurot ransmitters nitric oxide and zinc. Emphasis is placed on work from our labo ratory to devise sensors for NO and Zn2+ a project that was initiated 3 yea rs ago in a continuing effort to study the inorganic chemistry of the nervo us system. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.