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Iron-sulphur cluster biogenesis via the SUF pathway
1Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China. ylu@xmu.edu.cn.
Metallomics : Integrated Biometal Science
|July 19, 2018
Summary
The ancient sulphur utilization factor (SUF) system assembles iron-sulphur (Fe-S) clusters, vital for cellular processes and early life. This review details SUF mechanisms in bacteria and plants, focusing on assembly and regulation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Iron-sulphur (Fe-S) clusters are essential cofactors in fundamental metabolic processes like respiration and photosynthesis.
- Fe-S clusters are ubiquitous across all domains of life, highlighting their ancient origins and critical roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the ancient sulphur utilization factor (SUF) Fe-S cluster assembly system.
- To elucidate the proteins, regulation, and evolutionary aspects of the SUF mechanism.
- To examine Fe-S cluster synthesis in model organisms and specific enzyme assembly.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on the SUF pathway.
- Analysis of Fe-S cluster assembly mechanisms in Escherichia coli and Arabidopsis thaliana.
- In vivo discussion of [FeFe]-hydrogenase H-cluster assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Main Results:
- The SUF system is crucial for bacterial survival under iron starvation and oxidative stress.
- In plants, the SUF pathway is essential for plastidial Fe-S protein maturation.
- Detailed insights into the SUF Fe-S cluster assembly process and involved proteins are provided.
Conclusions:
- The SUF system represents an ancient and conserved pathway for Fe-S cluster biogenesis.
- Understanding SUF mechanisms is key to comprehending cellular metabolism, stress response, and the evolution of life.
- This review consolidates knowledge on SUF, offering evolutionary perspectives and specific case studies.
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