Is it just a chelating agent or some much more role it has in molecular biology research?
EDTA is a commonly used chelating agent in molecular because it is a very effective chelator of Magnesium. Most nucleases require Mg in order to function, so EDTA turns out to be an effective inhibitor of nuclease activity through its action in chelating Mg. Hence it is very commonly used in molecular biology applications. Note that not ALL nucleases require Mg, but most do.
EDTA is a commonly used chelating agent in molecular because it is a very effective chelator of Magnesium. Most nucleases require Mg in order to function, so EDTA turns out to be an effective inhibitor of nuclease activity through its action in chelating Mg. Hence it is very commonly used in molecular biology applications. Note that not ALL nucleases require Mg, but most do.
Hi there,
EDTA has metal divalent cation chelating activity (Mg, Mn, Co, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ca, Fe...) and potentially develops inhibitory activity on metal cation dependent enzymes.
Ethelene Diamine Tetraacetate is a chelating agent for metals such as Mg and is a large used as buffer action in Molecular Biology
i agree with Dominique Liger
it is just a chelating agents for metal cations which are essental for the activity of many enzymes. chelation of these cation will results in inhibition of theenyme activity. EDTA can be used also to overcome the toxicity caused be heavy metals (antidote or chelation therapy) and to prevent blood coagulation ans all these used depend on the same mechanism "chelation of metal cations"
BUT recently several articles were published addressing some new biological activities for EDTA and its metal complexes such as cytotoxic activity, interaction with DNA, and induction of apoptosis
have a look on these articles
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653516304428
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0223523414008757
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004520681100071X
Good luck
With one little observation
BUT recently several articles were published addressing some new biological activities for EDTA and its metal complexes should be read and understood as EDTA-metal complexes
Because the enumerated biological activities are due to the complexes and not to the EDTA itself.
Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a polyprotic acid containing four carboxylic acid groups and two amine groups with lone-pair electrons that chelate calcium and several other metal ions. Calcium is necessary for a wide range of enzyme reactions of the coagulation cascade and its removal irreversibly prevents blood clotting within the collection tube.
I am thankful to all. Can any one add an answer about the application of EDTA in bacterial protein purification through NI NTA Chromatography
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