Iron metabolism enzymes

Iron metabolism enzymes represent a diverse group of proteins responsible for the uptake, utilization, and storage of iron, a critical cofactor for numerous cellular processes including oxygen transport and DNA synthesis (StatPearls, 2023). Key enzymes in this pathway include ferrochelatase (FECH), which incorporates iron into protoporphyrin IX to form heme, and ferroxidases like hephaestin and ceruloplasmin that facilitate iron export by converting ferrous iron (Fe2+) to ferric iron (Fe3+) (UniProt, 2024). Dysregulation of these enzymes is central to the pathogenesis of disorders such as iron-deficiency anemia, hereditary hemochromatosis, and various forms of porphyria (NIH, 2023). Therapeutic strategies targeting these enzymes include iron chelation therapy to manage overload, iron supplementation for deficiency, and emerging hepcidin-ferroportin axis modulators (PubMed, 2022). Because iron can catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species via the Fenton reaction, these enzymes are tightly regulated to prevent oxidative cellular damage (Wikipedia, 2024). This entry is categorized as a group rather than a single molecular target due to the broad nature of the term "Iron metabolism enzymes".

Other names

Iron regulatory enzymesHeme biosynthetic enzymesIron homeostasis proteinsIron-related enzymes

Modulation of iron absorption, storage, and recycling through the inhibition or activation of specific enzymes and transporters involved in the iron cycle.