8-Hydroxyquinoline is an organic compound that is used as a RNA inhibitor, anti-cancer agent and bidentate chelating agent. In vitro studies against Escherichia coli had shown 8-hydroxyquinoline inhibiting RNA polymerase activity. The enzyme’s activity was inhibited by chelating manganese, magnesium or zinc cofactors. Activity of 8-hydroxyquinoline toward RNA polymerase is broad and inhibits the synthesis of vertebrate RNA as well as proteins.

8-Hydroxyquinoline has also been used as an immobile chelating agent to remove transition metals, alkali and alkaline cations from solutions or within organisms. Its capability to bind the positively charged metals has been shown in vivo to inhibit proteasome activity in tumor cells by transporting copper ions into malignant cells. Halting proteasome activity was observed in vitro and in vivo with decreased cancer growth due to apoptosis.

Carboplatin is an alkylating agent that is used as a chelating agent as well as a chemotherapeutic compound for its antineoplastic effects. While the exact mechanism of antineoplastic activity is still not well understood, it is believed to behave similarly to cisplatin which binds DNA and prevents its transcription and replication.

Carboplatin is also believed to generate free radicals from the attached platinum atom. Despite the uncertainty with carboplatin’s mechanism, it has shown to be highly effective antineoplastic compound when paired with paclitaxel (GoldBio Catalog # P-925) and bevacizumab.

Deferoxamine mesylate is the salt version of Deferoxamine, a bacterial siderophore produced by actinobacteria Streptomyces pilosus, with many medical applications. Since it chelates with iron and aluminum it is useful for removing excesses of both metals from the body. It has an anti-proliferative effect on vascular smooth muscles cells both in vitro and in vivo. Deferoxamine also induces apoptosis in many cells in less than a day, and can possibly be used as both an anti-cancer agent and an antimicrobial.

EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a chelating agent, a general chemical and a sequestrant. In molecular biology applications, it is used to minimize metal ion contamination and prevent enzymatic activity.

EDTA disodium is routinely used in electrophoresis DNA and protein separation applications to chelate metal ions required for enzymatic activity that could potentially damage DNA and protein structure.

Ethyleneglycol bis(2-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N' tetraacetic acid, (EGTA) is a calcium specific chelator. Because of its low affinity for Mg+, EGTA inhibits metalloproteases.

Iminodiacetic acid is a dicarboxylic acid amine used to regulate peptide mobility through capillary electrophoresis. It forms complexes that are stronger than glycine but weaker than nitrilotriacetic acid.

Kojic acid is a chelation agent produced by fungi. It’s used to prevent oxidative browning and to preserve color, along with treating skin diseases like melisma. In its crystal form, along with quercetin, it possesses cytotoxic activity to human cervical cancer cells and colon cancer cells. It seems to also be useful for protective effects from radiation-induced damages on mammalian cells. Kojic acid also inhibits catecholase activity of tyrosinase. When exposed to ferric ions it forms a bright red complex.

Lactobionic acid is a sugar acid formed from gluconic acid and galactose. It possesses antioxidant activity and is used in development of targeting drug delivery systems, such as silica nanoparticles. Lactobionic acid can be used as an iron chelator, making it useful as part of a solution for organ preservation.

Phytic acid, dodecasodium salt is present in all eukaryotic cells and functions as a phosphate storage depot and precursor to inositol phosphates and pyrophosphates in plant species. It is also a chelator of divalent and trivalent cations and acts with nuclear pore protein Gle1 in yeast. Phytic acid is used to determine zinc bioavailability.

Tropolone is a bactericidal antibiotic composed of a seven-membered aromatic ring. It targets a wide variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Tropolone has been used to prepared fused heterocycles and Ga(III) and In(III) complexes. It is also a reagent used to reduce sugars. It is freely soluble in various organic solvents.

It is suspected that tropolone targets cell membranes increasing their permeability and causing cell lysis.