Iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein (ISCU (major scaffold protein); other gene/protein names include ISCU, ISCA, NFS1, SufA, etc.)

Iron-sulfur cluster assembly proteins are a diverse group of proteins essential for the maturation of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters, ubiquitous prosthetic groups required for fundamental cell processes including electron transport, gene regulation, catalysis, iron metabolism, and DNA repair[6][1][7]. The assembly pathway involves cysteine desulfurases that liberate sulfur from cysteine, scaffold proteins (such as ISCU) that serve as platforms for cluster assembly, and carrier proteins/chaperones that facilitate transfer to target apoproteins[2][3][9]. Dysfunction in any part of the assembly process can result in diseases such as Friedreich’s ataxia or severe metabolic disorders[4][1]. These proteins are critical for cell viability and not considered direct therapeutic or drug targets, but serve crucial roles in cell biology and pathology[10][6].

Other names

Iron-sulfur cluster scaffold proteinFe-S cluster assembly proteinISCU (for the canonical scaffold protein in the ISC pathway)Iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis protein