Identification of a low molecular weight ligand for zinc in the human hyperplastic prostate.

Gel filtration and high performance gel filtration showed the zinc of prostatic cytosol to be associated with a low molecular weight ligand. Absence of degradation of this ligand by proteolytic enzymes but its disappearance after action of the citrate lyase system led to the identification of the ligand with citrate. Involvement of zinc-citrate in prostatic zinc homeostasis is discussed.