Molecular Mechanisms of Enzyme Activation by Monovalent Cations.

Regulation of enzymes through metal ion complexation is widespread in biology and underscores a physiological need for stability and high catalytic activity that likely predated proteins in the RNA world. In addition to divalent metals such as Ca, Mg, and Zn, monovalent cations often function as efficient and selective promoters of catalysis. Advances in structural biology unravel a rich repertoire of molecular mechanisms for enzyme activation by Na and K Strategies range from short-range effects mediated by direct participation in substrate binding, to more distributed effects that propagate long-range to catalytic residues. This review addresses general considerations and examples.