Old iron, young copper: from Mars to Venus

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Geochemistry
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Early life utilized water-soluble ferrous iron and water-insoluble copper (I) sulfides.
• The advent of oxygen significantly altered Earth's geochemistry and biochemistry.
• Oxygen's arrival led to insoluble iron (III) but soluble copper (II), impacting metal bioavailability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the distinct roles of iron and copper in early life.
• To explore the evolutionary adaptations to oxygen's presence.
• To examine the symbiotic relationship between iron and copper in biological systems.

Main Methods:

• Review of chemical and biochemical properties of iron and copper.
• Analysis of evolutionary impacts of oxygen on metal biochemistry.
• Examination of iron-copper interactions in yeast and mammals.

Main Results:

• Oxygen's advent necessitated new iron biochemistry, including chelators and ferritin for iron storage.
• Bioavailable copper (II) became crucial for utilizing oxygen's oxidative power.
• Evolution led to an "iron-copper age" characterized by metal symbiosis, particularly in multicellular organisms.

Conclusions:

• The interplay between iron and copper has been fundamental to life's evolution.
• Understanding iron-copper interactions is vital for human health.
• The synergistic relationship between iron and copper, akin to mythological pairings, offers benefits to species.