Cellular and mitochondrial iron homeostasis in vertebrates

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012 Sep;1823(9):1459-67. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2012.01.003. Epub 2012 Jan 18.

Abstract

Iron plays an essential role in cellular metabolism and biological processes. However, due to its intrinsic redox activity, free iron is a potentially toxic molecule in cellular biochemistry. Thus, organisms have developed sophisticated ways to import, sequester, and utilize iron. The transferrin cycle is a well-studied iron uptake pathway that is important for most vertebrate cells. Circulating iron can also be imported into cells by mechanisms that are independent of transferrin. Once imported into erythroid cells, iron is predominantly consumed by the mitochondria for the biosynthesis of heme and iron sulfur clusters. This review focuses on canonical transferrin-mediated and the newly discovered, non-transferrin mediated iron uptake pathways, as well as, mitochondrial iron homeostasis in higher eukaryotes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cell Biology of Metals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Homeostasis / physiology
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Iron Deficiencies
  • Iron-Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Iron-Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Transferrin / genetics
  • Receptors, Transferrin / metabolism*
  • Siderophores / metabolism
  • Transferrin / genetics
  • Transferrin / metabolism*
  • Vertebrates

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Iron-Regulatory Proteins
  • Receptors, Transferrin
  • Siderophores
  • Transferrin
  • Iron