Mining the genome for iron

Article Abstract:

It has been possible to identify the transporter needed for exporting iron from the enterocytes into the blood plasma. This exporter was identified by cloning a mutant gene in zebrafish, weissherbst, that leads to iron-limited erythropoiesis. It was shown that ferroportin 1 messenger RNA is found in tissues involved in iron transport. A lot of the iron that enters plasma comes from the recycling of iron from red blood cells by macrophages, and ferroportin 1 may also be the macrophage iron exporter. The identification of the iron exporter should enhance understanding of hereditary haemochromatosis.

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Crystal structure of the hereditary haemochromatosis protein HFE complexed with transferrin receptor

Article Abstract:

The binding of HFE, a 348-residue type I trans-membrane glycoprotein, to TfR, a key receptor for iron uptake, is clearly a core element in the function of HFE in regulation of iron homeostasis. HFE binds to TfR in duodenal crypt enterocytes, which control the absorption of dietary iron. This research has described the crystal structure of a complex between the ectodomains of human HFE and TfR. The complex shows twofold symmetry with a 2:2 stoichiometry. One HFE contacts each polypeptide chain of the TfR homodimer.

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CD1-restricted T-cell responses and microbial infection

Article Abstract:

The mechanisms of CD1-restricted T-cell responses to microbial infection are discussed, focusing on lipid antigen recognition.

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