Biochemistry of Nonheme Iron

Atomic biology has come of age. Interest in the role of chemical elements in life processes has captured the imagination of a wide spectrum of research scientists-ranging from the nutritionist to the biochemist, the inorganic chemist, and even to some biophysicists. This series, Biochemistry of the Elements, is a recognition of this increasing interest. When complete, the books will assemble the hard facts concerning the biochemistry of each element-singly or in a logical grouping. The series will provide a permanent reference for this active and growing field. Each volume shall represent an integrated effort by one or several authors to describe the current knowledge of an element(s) or the methods by which it is studied. Iron is the only element to which we have devoted two volumes, because its biological and chemical role is so versatile and complex. These two volumes will treat the two main structural categories of iron: heme and nonheme iron. In this volume on nonheme iron, the first in the series, Anatoly Bezkorovainy provides what we believe is the most comprehensive treatment of this important topic.

1. Tissue Iron and an Overview on Nonheme Iron Biochemistry.- 1.1 Introduction to Iron Metabolism.- 1.2 Historical Sketch of Iron Biology.- 1.3 Some Quantitative Data on Iron Distribution in Various Life Forms.- 1.4 Iron Determination in Biological Systems.- Summary.- References.- 2. Ferrokinetics.- 2.1 Classical Approach to Ferrokinetics.- 2.2 Compartment Models.- 2.3 Approaches to Ferrokinetics Based on the Probability Theory.- Summary.- List of Additional Abbreviations Used in Chapter 2.- References.- 3. Absorption of Nonheme Iron.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Techniques of Measuring Absorption.- 3.3 Mechanism of Iron Absorption.- 3.4 Corporal Factors Affecting Iron Absorption.- 3.5 Intraluminal Factors Affecting Iron Absorption.- 3.6 Mucosal Factors Affecting Iron Absorption.- 3.7 Regulation of Iron Absorption.- 3.8 Groups at Risk.- 3.9 Fortification.- Summary.- References.- 4. Chemistry and Metabolism of the Transferrins.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 The Levels of Transferrins in Biological Fluids.- 4.3 Isolation of the Transferrins.- 4.4 Physical Properties of the Transferrins.- 4.5 Metal-Binding Properties of the Transferrins.- 4.6 Distribution of Iron in Human Serum Transferrin in Vivo.- 4.7 Some Gross Differences between Iron-Free and Iron-Saturated Transferrins.- 4.8 The Iron-Binding Ligands of the Transferrins.- 4.9 Primary Structure of the Transferrins.- 4.10 Microheterogeneity of the Transferrins.- 4.11 Metabolism of the Transferrins.- Summary.- References.- 5. Chemistry and Biology of Iron Storage.- 5.1 Distribution of Ferritin and Hemosiderin.- 5.2 Isolation of Ferritin.- 5.3 Physical-Chemical Properties of the Ferritins.- 5.4 Metabolism of Ferritin.- 5.5 Iron Uptake and Release by Ferritin and Apoferritin.- 5.6 Ferritin and Tissue Iron Metabolism.- Summary.- References.- 6. The Interaction of Nonheme Iron with Immature Red Cells.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Early Investigations on Serotransferrin-Immature Red Cell Interactions.- 6.3 The Mechanism of Serotransferrin-Immature Red Cell Interaction.- 6.4 Molecular Properties of Serotransferrin and its Effect on the Interaction with Immature Red Cells.- 6.5 Transferrin Receptors in the Immature Red Cells.- 6.6 Iron Removal from Serotransferrin.- Summary.- References.- 7. Microbial Iron Uptake and the Antimicrobial Properties of the Transferrins.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Structure of Siderophores.- 7.3 Chemical and Physical Properties of the Siderophores.- 7.4 Metabolism and Biological Properties of the Siderophores.- 7.5 Siderophores of Mammalian Origin.- 7.6 Iron Chelators in Clinical Practice.- 7.7 Antimicrobial Properties of the Transferrins.- Summary.- References.- 8. The Iron-Sulfur Proteins.- 8.1 Introduction and Classification.- 8.2 Rubredoxins.- 8.3 Ferredoxins.- 8.4 Iron-Sulfur Proteins and Nitrogen Fixation.- 8.5 Iron-Sulfur Proteins of Mammalian Electron Transport Mechanisms.- 8.6 Miscellaneous Iron-Sulfur Proteins.- Summary.- References.- 9. Miscellaneous Aspects of Iron Metabolism.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Phosvitin, an Egg Iron-Binding Phosphoprotein.- 9.3 The Oxygenases.- 9.4 Hemerythrins.- 9.5 Iron Bacteria.- 9.6 Metalloserotransferrin as a Lymphocyte Growth Promoter.- Summary.- References.- Suggested Reading.