Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

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...
Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption01:19

Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption

The process of oral drug absorption can be influenced by several factors. Weakly acidic drugs tend to be absorbed more readily from the stomach due to their nonionized state. However, absorption may be less efficient in the upper intestine, where drugs are often ionized. Interestingly, despite the stomach's apparent advantage for drug absorption, its mucous layer can hinder diffusion. Its surface area is also smaller than the intestine's, which can further slow down the absorption rate.
In...
Protein Absorption01:12

Protein Absorption

Proteins in the gastrointestinal tract typically come from food, but they can also originate from disintegrated cells or secreted enzymes. In the stomach, the enzyme pepsin breaks down these proteins into polypeptides. The fragments then move into the duodenum as a semi-fluid mass called chyme. Pancreatic proteases, such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, and intestinal brush border enzymes like carboxypeptidases further dismantle the polypeptides into tripeptides, dipeptides, and free amino acids.
Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Anatomical Parameters01:23

Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Anatomical Parameters

Drug absorption involves the movement of drugs from the point of administration into the systemic circulation. Initially, Gastrointestinal (GI) motility propels the drug through the digestive tract and into the stomach. However, the stomach's high acidity and limited surface area restrict its role in drug absorption for most drugs. The drug then moves from the stomach to the small intestine via gastric emptying, which can be slowed by various factors, including interactions with other...
Absorption of Nutrients01:19

Absorption of Nutrients

Absorption refers to taking dietary nutrients from the intestinal lumen for transportation throughout the body. After digestion in the small intestine, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into simpler forms. These essential macronutrients and other vital substances, such as vitamins, minerals, and water, are then prepared for absorption into the bloodstream.
Enterocytes, which are specialized polar epithelial cells, line the mucosa of the small intestinal walls. These cells...
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System II: Digestion and Absorption01:22

Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System II: Digestion and Absorption

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract, extending from the mouth to the anus, plays a pivotal role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. This process involves both mechanical and chemical actions facilitated by various enzymes.
Digestion begins in the mouth, where food undergoes mechanical breakdown by chewing and combines with saliva. Salivary amylase, an enzyme in saliva, starts the breakdown of starches into maltose. The food then travels down the esophagus to the stomach.
In the stomach, a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Ballistic high-powered spider webs overcome dangerous prey defenses.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

simCRISPR: Modeling Experimental Complexity in Pooled CRISPR Screens.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

CerS2 Is a Druggable Target in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Molecular cancer therapeutics·2026
Same author

Physiologically relevant 3D CRISPR screening enhances mechanistic insight into chemical toxicity compared to 2D screening.

Toxicology·2026
Same author

cellMCD Effectively Discovers Drug Resistance and Sensitivity Genes for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Genes·2026
Same author

Parkinson's disease LRRK2 mutations dysregulate iron homeostasis and promote oxidative stress and ferroptosis in human neurons and astrocytes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

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

Intestinal iron absorption.

Brie K Fuqua1, Christopher D Vulpe, Gregory J Anderson

  • 1Iron Metabolism Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology : Organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)
|May 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Intestinal iron absorption maintains body iron levels using specific transporters like DMT1 and ferroportin. This process is tightly regulated by hepcidin, influenced by body iron status, to prevent iron deficiency or overload.

More Related Videos

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

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

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

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

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Intestinal iron absorption is vital for maintaining iron homeostasis.
  • Dietary iron exists in various forms, with non-heme iron absorption being well-characterized.
  • Key proteins involved include divalent metal-ion transporter 1 (DMT1), duodenal cytochrome B, ferroportin 1, and hephaestin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms and regulatory network governing intestinal iron absorption.
  • To understand the roles of specific transporters and regulatory peptides in iron homeostasis.
  • To identify factors contributing to iron loading and deficiency disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established knowledge on iron transport across the enterocyte.
  • Analysis of the roles of duodenal cytochrome B, DMT1, ferroportin 1, and hephaestin.
  • Examination of regulatory mechanisms involving hepcidin, BMP-SMAD signaling, and intracellular iron/oxygen levels.

Main Results:

  • Non-heme iron uptake is mediated by DMT1, facilitated by duodenal cytochrome B reduction.
  • Iron export from enterocytes involves ferroportin 1 and hephaestin-mediated oxidation.
  • Hepcidin binding to ferroportin regulates iron absorption, responding to body iron needs via BMP-SMAD signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Intestinal iron absorption is a complex, tightly regulated process essential for iron homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of this system can lead to significant human health disorders, including iron deficiency and overload.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies for iron-related diseases.