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Mitochondria have Fe(III) receptors

J Weaver1, H Zhan, S Pollack

  • 1Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.

The Biochemical Journal
|January 15, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a key iron carrier in reticulocytes. Experiments show that ATP-iron complexes bind to specific mitochondrial receptors, influencing iron uptake and cellular processes.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Iron Metabolism

Background:

  • Recent studies identify adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the primary component of the low-molecular-weight iron pool in reticulocytes.
  • Understanding the interaction of iron complexes with cellular components is crucial for elucidating iron transport mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interaction between adenosine triphosphate-iron (ATP-Fe3+) complexes and mitochondria.
  • To characterize the binding affinity and specificity of iron complexes to mitochondrial receptors.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of ATP-Fe3+ with isolated mitochondria.
  • Analysis of iron binding to mitochondrial receptors using varying iron chelators (PPi, nitrilotriacetate, citrate, ADP, GTP, AMP).
  • Assessment of binding saturation and reversibility.

Main Results:

  • ATP-Fe3+ demonstrated saturable and reversible binding to specific Fe3+ receptors on mitochondria.
  • Other iron complexes (PPi, nitrilotriacetate, citrate, ADP, GTP) also exhibited saturable binding.
  • Iron complexed to AMP, as well as Fe2+ complexes, showed non-specific binding.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondria possess specific, high-affinity receptors for Fe3+ delivered via ATP.
  • The binding characteristics suggest a regulated mechanism for mitochondrial iron uptake involving specific iron chelators.
  • This interaction is vital for understanding iron homeostasis and ATP's role in reticulocyte iron metabolism.

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