A perspective essay on the use of Ga3+ as a proxy for Fe3+ in bioinorganic model studies and its successful use for therapeutic purposes.

Alvin L Crumbliss, Sambuddha Banerjee

Journal of inorganic biochemistry 2021 Jun

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The use of Ga3+ as a structural mimic for Fe3+ in model bioinorganic investigations is usually based on a common assumption that Ga3+ and Fe3+ should form bioligand complexes of similar stabilities due to their similar charge/radius ratio (z/r). However, the literature survey presented here is contrary to this notion, showing that under laboratory conditions often Ga3+ forms weaker bioligand complexes than Fe3+in aqueous medium. We hypothesize that this is because Ga3+ is more aquaphilic than Fe3+ as suggested by their relative heats of hydration (ΔHhyd). The successful use of Ga3+ as a therapeutic agent is also briefly reviewed, showing this success often stems from the redox inertness as well as different pharmacokinetics of Ga3+ than Fe3+, but similar metabolic pathways as Fe3+ in human serum. Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Citation

Alvin L Crumbliss, Sambuddha Banerjee. A perspective essay on the use of Ga3+ as a proxy for Fe3+ in bioinorganic model studies and its successful use for therapeutic purposes. Journal of inorganic biochemistry. 2021 Jun;219:111411