: It details how metalloenzymes were likely the very first biological catalysts on Earth. Before complex life existed, these proteins harnessed metals like iron and nickel to perform the basic chemistry needed for life.
The "story" within this encyclopedia follows the evolution and function of metal-binding proteins through several key chapters of biological history: Encyclopedia of Metalloproteins
The is a monumental reference work that chronicles the "story" of life's dependency on metals . While the encyclopedia itself is a massive technical resource—spanning over 2,500 pages and edited by Robert H. Kretsinger, Vladimir N. Uversky, and Eugene A. Permyakov—it tells a biological narrative about how inanimate minerals became the engines of the living world. The Narrative of the Encyclopedia : It details how metalloenzymes were likely the