Structure and function in organometallic•protein complexes

•Structural elucidation of organometallic•protein complexes provides detailed information.•Many practical applications along with fundamental studies have been aided by this information.•We review the field organized by protein.

Bioorganometallic chemistry is a rapidly growing subfield of organometallic chemistry. One important facet is the study of organometallic•protein complexes that contain a covalent bond between the protein and an organometallic prosthetic group. Structural elucidation of these complexes is being used with increasing frequency to determine exactly where metal binding takes place and to obtain accurate structural information. This review summarizes the structures in this field, highlighting how this information has driven the frontier of this research.

Graphical abstractMetallo-arenes and metal carbonyls are two examples of organometallic species that can react with proteins to form structurally characterized protein adducts.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide