title: Transferrin-iron routing to the cytosol and mitochondria as studied by live and real-time fluorescence.
abstract: In the present study we analysed the mechanism of intracellular routing of iron acquired by erythroid cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis of Tf-Fe [Tf (transferrin)-iron]. Using real-time fluorimetry and flow cytometry, in conjunction with targeted fluorescent metal sensors, we monitored concurrently the cytosolic and mitochondrial changes in labile iron evoked by endocytosed Tf-Fe. In K562 human erythroleukaemia cells, most of the Tf-Fe was found to be delivered to the cytosolic labile iron pool by a saturable mechanism [60-120 nM Km (app)] that was quantitatively dependent on: Tf receptor levels, endosomal acidification/reduction for dislodging iron from Tf and ensuing translocation of labile iron into the cytosolic compartment. The parallel ingress of iron to mitochondria was also saturable, but with a relatively lower Km (app) (26-42 nM) and a lower maximal ingress per cell than into the cytosol. The ingress of iron into the mitochondrial labile iron pool was blocked by cytosol-targeted iron chelators, implying that a substantial fraction of Tf-Fe delivered to these organelles passes through the cytosol in non-occluded forms that remain accessible to high-affinity ligands. The present paper is the first report describing intracellular iron routing measured in intact cells in real-time and in quantitative terms, opening the road for also exploring the process in mixed-cell populations of erythroid origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Safra Campus at Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shvartsman
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fibach
authors.forename: Z Ioav
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Cabantchik
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005453:Fluorescence; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D020014:K562 Cells; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron