Zinc-buffering capacity of a eukaryotic cell at physiological pZn

In spite of the paramount importance of zinc in biology.. dynamic aspects of cellular zinc metabolism remain poorly defined at the molecular level. Investigations with human colon cancer (HT-29) cells establish a total cellular zinc concentration of 264 mu M. Remarkably, about 10% of the potential high-affinity zinc-binding sites are not occupied by zinc, resulting in a surplus of 28 mu M ligands (average K-d(c) = 83 pM) that ascertain cellular zinc-buffering capacity and maintain the free zinc concentration in proliferating cells at picomolar levels (784 pM, pZn = 9.1). This zinc-buffering capacity allows zinc to fluctuate only with relatively small amplitudes (Delta pZn = 0.1 below 1 nM) without significantly perturbing physiological pZn. Thus, the free zinc concentrations in resting and differentiated HT-29 cells are 614 pM and 1.25 nM, respectively. The calculation of these free zinc concentrations is based on measurements at different concentrations of the fluorogenic zinc-chelating agent and extrapolation to a zero concentration of the agent. It depends on the state of the cell, its buffering capacity, and the zinc dissociation constant of the chelating agent. Zinc induction of thionein (apometallothionein) ensures a surplus of unbound ligands, increases zinc-buffering capacity and the availability of zinc (Delta pZn = 0.8), but preserves the zinc-buffering capacity of the unoccupied high-affinity zinc-binding sites, perhaps for crucial physiological functions. Jointly, metallothionein and thionein function as the major zinc buffer under conditions of increased cellular zinc.