Trigonal Bipyramidal Zinc Center

One of the possible geometries for zinc in proteins is trigonal bipyramidal. Trigonal bipyramidal geometry involves the central atom being surrounded by five atoms: two axial and three equatorial.

Adenosine deaminase (1uio)

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Adenosine deaminase is important in the purine metabolic pathway. It is also
important in immune system maintenance. This enzyme catalyzes the irreversible
deamination of adenosine and 2'-deoxyadenosine. An interesting thing about
this enzyme is that it produces a reaction rate increase on the order of 10¹²
when compared to the reaction without the enzyme.¹ The average axial bond
distance is 214 pm, and the average equatorial bond distance is 226 pm.

¹Sideraki, V., Wilson, D., Kurz, L., Quiocho, F., Rudolph, F. Biochemistry 1996, 35, 15019.

2-phospho-D-glycerate hydrolase (6enl)

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Enolase, or 2-phospho-D-glycerate hydrolase, is an important enzyme in glycolysis,
the breakdown of glucose and the formation of ATP and NADH. It catalyzes the elimination of water
from 2-phosphoglyceric acid to make phosphoenolpyruvate, the only dehydration reaction in
glycolysis. Enolase is activated by Mg(II) and Zn(II) and inhibited by phosphoglycolate.²
The average axial bond distance is 213 pm, and the average equatorial bond distance is 195 pm.

²Lebioda, L., Stec, B., Brewer, J., Tykarska, E. Biochemistry 1991, 30, 2823.

Tetrahedral Zinc
Trigonal Pyramidal Zinc
Two Other Zinc Structures

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