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Related Concept Videos

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin01:28

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin

Essential proteins such as insulin or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and micronutrients such as iron enter a eukaryotic cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, the early endosomes fuse with the vesicles containing such receptor-ligand complexes and play a vital role in sorting the incoming ligands and receptors. While the ligands are either degraded inside the vesicle or released into the cytosol, their receptors are returned to the plasma membrane for further rounds of...
Lifecycle of Erythrocytes01:22

Lifecycle of Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, constantly move through blood capillaries. As a result, they damage their plasma membrane due to the continuous friction. Typically, after 100 to 120 days, erythrocytes become rigid and fragile as they wear out. As they pass through small vessels in the spleen and liver, they can get trapped and break apart into fragments.
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups.
Oxygen Transport in the Blood01:27

Oxygen Transport in the Blood

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a crucial molecule in the human body, consisting of four polypeptide chains, each bound to an iron-containing heme group. This unique structure enables hemoglobin to bind to oxygen, with each molecule capable of combining with four molecules of oxygen, leading to rapid and reversible oxygen loading. When fully loaded with oxygen, it is called oxyhemoglobin, while hemoglobin that has released oxygen is called reduced hemoglobin or deoxyhemoglobin. As hemoglobin binds oxygen,...
Mineral, Vitamin and Water Absorption01:27

Mineral, Vitamin and Water Absorption

Electrolytes are essential minerals and ions primarily obtained from the diet and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Most electrolytes are absorbed in the small intestine. While the absorption of iron and calcium primarily occurs in the duodenum, calcium is also absorbed in the jejunum and ileum. In these regions, passive diffusion contributes to its absorption alongside active transport mechanisms in the duodenum. These ions can exit the enterocytes through specialized active...
Carrier-Mediated Transport01:06

Carrier-Mediated Transport

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Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles01:24

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
08:45

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes

Published on: May 10, 2022

Iron absorption and transport-an update.

M E Conrad1, J N Umbreit

  • 1University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA. mconrad@usamail.usouthal.edu

American Journal of Hematology
|July 27, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Iron absorption is tightly regulated to prevent toxicity. Dietary heme iron is efficiently absorbed, while non-heme iron uptake involves specific pathways like DMT-1 and beta(3) integrin. Cellular iron levels control absorption rates.

Area of Science:

  • Human Physiology
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Iron is essential for life but toxic in excess, necessitating strict absorption regulation.
  • Dietary heme iron is preferentially absorbed over non-heme iron due to fewer inhibitory interactions.
  • Enterocyte iron levels reflect body iron status, influencing absorption regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of dietary iron absorption in enterocytes.
  • To identify key proteins involved in both heme and non-heme iron uptake and transport.
  • To understand how cellular iron concentration regulates intestinal iron absorption.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on iron absorption pathways.
  • Identification and description of key proteins: beta(3) integrin, mobilferrin (IMP), DMT-1, SFT, and Hephaestin.

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Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay

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The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability
06:34

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
08:45

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes

Published on: May 10, 2022

Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay
05:08

Measurement of Tissue Non-Heme Iron Content using a Bathophenanthroline-Based Colorimetric Assay

Published on: January 31, 2022

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability
06:34

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

Published on: April 28, 2022

  • Analysis of iron uptake mechanisms in both intestinal and non-intestinal cells.

    • Main Results:

    • Heme iron is absorbed intact into enterocytes, with iron released intracellularly by heme oxygenase.
    • Non-heme iron absorption involves distinct pathways: beta(3) integrin/IMP for ferric iron and DMT-1 for ferrous iron.
    • Proteins like SFT and Hephaestin are implicated in facilitating iron uptake and transport across enterocytes.

    Conclusions:

    • Intestinal iron absorption is a complex process involving multiple specific protein transporters.
    • Cellular iron homeostasis is maintained through regulated uptake and transport mechanisms.
    • Understanding these pathways is crucial for addressing iron metabolism disorders.