Iron Complexation within Fungal Cells

Iron complexation within fungal cells refers to the processes and molecular systems by which fungi acquire, transport, store, and utilize iron. Iron is an essential micronutrient for nearly all fungi due to its critical role in electron transfer reactions and as a cofactor in various metabolic enzymes. Fungi have evolved multiple strategies to overcome environmental or host-imposed iron limitation including reductive iron uptake, siderophore-mediated uptake, and heme/hemoglobin utilization. Intracellular handling and storage involve proteins like ferritin-like molecules and chaperones like Lso1. Transcriptional regulators sense iron levels and adjust gene expression accordingly. Disrupting these fungal-specific mechanisms impairs fungal growth/proliferation, especially under host-imposed nutritional immunity, and can enhance susceptibility to antifungals.

Other names

Fungal Iron HomeostasisFungal Iron UptakeFungal Iron Metabolism

Chelation of iron, inhibition of iron uptake, disruption of iron homeostasis