Ferrous iron (Fe2+) (Fe2+)

Ferrous iron (Fe2+) is a critical transition metal ion that serves as an essential cofactor for a wide array of proteins and enzymes involved in fundamental biological processes [PubChem, 2024]. It is a central component of heme groups in hemoglobin and myoglobin, facilitating oxygen transport and storage, and is vital for electron transport in the mitochondrial respiratory chain [Wikipedia, 2024]. Beyond oxygen handling, ferrous iron is required for the activity of non-heme enzymes such as prolyl hydroxylases, which regulate the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway, and ribonucleotide reductase, which is essential for DNA synthesis [UniProt, 2024]. Dysregulation of iron homeostasis leads to significant pathologies, including iron deficiency anemia and iron overload disorders like hereditary hemochromatosis [StatPearls, 2023]. In the context of pharmacology, ferrous iron is directly administered as a supplement to treat deficiencies or targeted by chelating agents to mitigate toxicity from systemic overload [NIH, 2023]. Furthermore, the role of ferrous iron in ferroptosis—a form of regulated cell death—has emerged as a significant area of interest in oncology and neurodegeneration research [PubMed, 2023]. The ion's ability to cycle between oxidation states allows it to participate in vital redox reactions, though this same property necessitates tight regulation to prevent the formation of damaging reactive oxygen species via the Fenton reaction [NIH, 2023].

Other names

Iron(II)Ferrous ionFe(II)Iron(2+)Ferrous iron cofactor

Ferrous iron acts as a substrate for transport proteins and a catalytic center for enzymes; drugs either replenish iron levels through direct supplementation or sequester the ion via chelation to prevent oxidative damage [NIH, 2023; StatPearls, 2023].