How Does Histidine Participate in Metal Ion Coordination?
Histidine is frequently involved in the coordination of metal ions within metalloenzymes. The nitrogen atoms in its imidazole ring can bind to metal ions such as zinc, copper, and iron, which are essential for the enzyme's catalytic activity. For example, in zinc proteases, histidine residues coordinate with the zinc ion to facilitate the hydrolysis of peptide bonds.
