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Iron, an Element Essential to Life

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Molecular Aspects of Iron Metabolism in Pathogenic and Symbiotic Plant-Microbe Associations

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science ((SB BIOMETALS))

Abstract

Iron plays a vital role in virtually all living organisms. This element is the second most common metal after aluminum in the earth’s crust. Its abundance and the flexibility of its electronic structure made iron particularly suitable for life. Indeed, the Fe3+/Fe2+ couple covers a wide range of redox potentials which can be finely tuned by coordinated ligands, conferring on it a key catalytic role in various fundamental metabolic pathways. However, as ferrous iron catalyzes the production of cell-damaging reactive oxygen species OH° via the Fenton reaction, excess iron or incorrect storage of this metal can be deleterious to organisms. Despite its abundance, iron is not easily bioavailable under aerobic conditions because the oxidized ferric form displays low solubility. Confronted with shortages of iron, organisms with aerobic lifestyles express specific mechanisms for its acquisition. Thus, iron is often a stake in competition between organisms of the same ecological niche and holds a peculiar position at the microbe–host interface. This chapter illustrates the importance of this metal in biological systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire Interactions Plantes-Pathogènes, AgroParisTech, 16 rue Claude Bernard, 75005, Paris, France

    Dominique Expert

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  1. Dominique Expert
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Correspondence to Dominique Expert .

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  1. , Interactions Plantes-Pathogenes, AgroParis Tech, rue Claude Bernard 16, Paris, 75005, France

    Dominique Expert

  2. , Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Farber Hall 140, Buffalo, 14214, New York, USA

    Mark R. O'Brian

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Expert, D. (2012). Iron, an Element Essential to Life. In: Expert, D., O'Brian, M. (eds) Molecular Aspects of Iron Metabolism in Pathogenic and Symbiotic Plant-Microbe Associations. SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science(). Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5267-2_1

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