**4.1 A need to link metal ion fluxes with other biomolecules**

The key to more insightful interpretations from much of this imaging is linking it to known physiological pathways. Much of what we know about cell function, and many therapeutic targets, is because of the specificity of proteins. Unleashing the potential of this tool calls for matching our developing understanding of the role of metal ions themselves in biology with our greater understanding of physiology in general.

Can the distribution of metal ions be diagnostic? Can these metal ions, or at least their signature distribution and quantity in subcellular compartments, serve as biomarkers? Consider this:


Thus, while it seems entirely possible that the distributions of metals may be used as a signature diagnostic of a pathological state in the future, the development of metalloproteomics and other methods of identifying their partner biomolecules is essential to therapeutic intervention in these metal-related disease processes.
