Measuring zinc levels
A team of Florida State University (FSU) researchers will use a five-year, $1.3m (£0.8m) grant from the US National Institutes of Health to develop a way to measure trace levels of zinc in the human body.
Zinc plays a critical role in numerous biochemical processes, but exactly how it works has never been clear, due partly to the lack of an effective means for measuring its varying levels of concentration.
Led by Lei Zhu, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, the Florida State team will work to develop a method for measuring the levels of zinc ions (Zn2+) in biological samples through fluorescence microscopy.
‘Zinc is essential for a wide variety of physiological functions within the human body,’ said Zhu. ‘Just to cite a few examples, it plays a major role in cell division, the synthesis of DNA, the production of proteins and enzymes, and proper immune function. However, we still don’t have a solid understanding of the mechanisms behind these biological processes, or even of how much daily intake of zinc is required in the human diet.’
We still don’t have a solid understanding of the mechanisms behind these biological processes
Register now to continue reading
Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.
Benefits of registering
-
In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends
-
Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year
-
Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox
UK Automotive Feeling The Pinch Of Skills Shortage
Not so much attracting skills to the UK but generating skills within the UK is what is needed! That statement suggest they are in effect wanting to...