PNNL

Abstract

Metallomics is defined as the study of metals and metal species, and their interactions, transformations, and functions in biological systems. The full complement of metals and metal moieties (free and bound) is accordingly known as the metallome. The terms are relatively new ones, first coined by R.J.P. Williams of Oxford University and Hiroki Haraguchi of Nagoya University early in the present millennium. Metallomics is a new moniker for the field of bioinorganic chemistry, extending and broadening that discipline much as genomics has done for genetics, and is appositely harmonious with other ‘ohmics’ terms like genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Metallomics is also distinguished from other terms (e.g. speciation) by consideration of the global role of all metals/metalloids in a system.