Iron and Heme Transport and Trafficking

AbstractGenetic defects in iron acquisition and export, and heme metabolism can result in pathologies including congenital anemia or porphyria. While the enzymes that govern heme synthesis have been elucidated and characterized, the proteins and genes that govern the transport of iron, heme, and heme intermediates are poorly studied. Knowledge of these transport mechanisms will shed light on important regulatory steps that govern heme and iron metabolism. This article focuses on summarizing current studies on heme, heme intermediates and iron transport, and attempts to identify gaps in our knowledge of these transport pathways. Additionally, we will highlight the contribution of model organisms to the understanding of heme/iron metabolism.