Intracellular fungal iron pool

Intracellular fungal iron pool refers to the dynamic reservoirs of iron maintained within fungal cells, which are essential for survival, proliferation, and pathogenesis. Iron acts as a critical cofactor for enzymes involved in DNA synthesis, mitochondrial respiration, and the management of oxidative stress [PubMed: 25621616]. Pathogenic fungi, such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, utilize these pools to survive the iron-restricted environment of the host [PubMed: 23913483]. These pools are primarily located within the vacuole or associated with siderophores and specialized storage proteins. Targeting these iron stores is a viable antifungal strategy, as iron depletion leads to metabolic arrest and reduced pathogenicity. Pharmacological intervention typically involves iron chelators like Deferasirox or siderophore mimics like VL-2397 that disrupt iron homeostasis [PubMed: 30635322]. Additionally, "Trojan horse" strategies use iron uptake pathways to deliver antifungal drugs directly into the cell. A major challenge in targeting these pools is the potential for host toxicity due to the conserved nature of iron metabolism across eukaryotes [PubMed: 28807909].

Other names

Fungal iron storesLabile iron pool (LIP)Vacuolar iron poolSiderophore-mediated iron storage

Iron chelation, competitive inhibition of iron uptake, and disruption of intracellular iron trafficking and storage