Fig. 2: Main metabolic cellular pathways involved in iron homeostasis, usage, and transport. | Molecular Psychiatry

Fig. 2: Main metabolic cellular pathways involved in iron homeostasis, usage, and transport.

From: Iron imbalance in neurodegeneration

Fig. 2

Iron incorporated into the cell, via Tf/TfR1 endocytosis or through DMT1/ZIPs, reaches the cytosol and mitochondria for support the ISC and heme biosyntheses. TfR2 form a complex with hemochromatosis protein, HFE, and serves as a component of the iron sensing machinery to regulate iron homeostasis. Fpn is the only iron-protein exporter involved in release of metal from the cell. The cytosolic labile iron pool (cytLIP), the redox-active iron available for the synthesis of iron enzymes, is in direct contact with only two classes of cytosolic proteins. They are highly represented and can bind iron: ferritins bind Fe-oxygen complexes, while IRPs link Fe-S (ISC) complexes. Ferritins store excess iron, and IRPs act as iron sensors.

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