Regulation of the root high-affinity iron uptake system by whole-plant signals was investigated at the molecular level in Arabidopsis, through monitoring FRO2 and IRT1 gene expression. These two genes encode the root ferric-chelate reductase and the high-affinity iron transporter, respectively, involved in the iron deficiency-induced uptake system. Recovery from iron-deficient conditions and mo...

Iron is an essential element for all living organisms due to its ubiquitous role in redox and other enzymes, especially in the context of respiration and photosynthesis. The iron uptake and storage systems of terrestrial/higher plants are now reasonably well understood, with two basic strategies for iron uptake being distinguished: strategy I plants use a mechanism involving induction of Fe(III...

Equilibrium-dialysis experiments with 59Fe-labelled Fe(III) chelate solutions show that ferritin is capable of binding a limited number of Fe(III) atoms. Some of this Fe(III) is readily removed, but up to about 200 Fe(III) atoms/molecule remain bound after extensive washing. Some exchange of labelled Fe(III) with endogenous unlabelled ferritin Fe occurs during prolonged dialysis against 59Fe(II...

Further experience with the differential ferrioxamine test (Fielding, 1965) for the measurement of body-iron chelation has led to modifications which include (1) an improved standard for the estimation of ferrioxamine, (2) simplified preparation of the test dose, (3) restriction of fluid during the test and (4) simplified methods of calculation. The principle of the test remains the same: an in...

The two potentially tridentate and monoprotic Schiff bases acetylpyridine benzoylhydrazone (HL(1)) and acetylpyridine 4-tert-butylbenzoylhydrazone (HL(2)) demonstrate remarkable coordination versatility towards iron on account of their propensity to undergo tautomeric transformations as imposed by the metal centre. Each of the pyridyl aroylhydrazone ligands complexes with the ferrous or ferric ...

Anthracyclines are effective anticancer agents. However, their use is limited by cardiotoxicity, an effect linked to their ability to chelate iron and to perturb iron metabolism (Mol Pharmacol 68:261-271, 2005). These effects on iron-trafficking remain poorly understood, but they are important to decipher because treatment for anthracycline cardiotoxicity uses the chelator, dexrazoxane. Incubat...

We have engineered the tropical root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta) to express the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii iron assimilatory gene, FEA1, in its storage roots with the objective of enhancing the root nutritional qualities. Iron levels in mature cassava storage roots were increased from 10 to 36 ppm in the highest iron accumulating transgenic lines. These iron levels are sufficient to meet th...

The primary targets of iron chelators used for treating transfusional iron overload are prevention of iron ingress into tissues and its intracellular scavenging. The present study was aimed at elucidating the capacity of clinically important iron chelators such as deferiprone (DFP), desferrioxamine, and ICL670 to (a) gain direct access to intracellular iron pools of key cells of iron accumulati...

Hydroponic systems are efficient for studying plant nutrition. It is often desirable to adjust individual nutrients unique species’ needs and/or create multiple nutrient deficiencies within the same study. However, this challenging do with traditional solutions as generally added dual salts, such when varying phosphorus (P) concentration also affects nitrogen concentration; potentially, chemica...