Cellular sensing and transport of metal ions: implications in micronutrient homeostasis.
Micronutrients include the transition metal ions zinc, copper and iron. These metals are essential for life as they serve as cofactors for many different proteins. On the other hand, they can also be toxic to cell growth when in excess. As a consequence, all organisms require mechanisms to tightly regulate the levels of these metal ions. In eukaryotes, one of the primary ways in which metal levels are regulated is through changes in expression of genes required for metal uptake, compartmentalization, storage and export. By tightly regulating the expression of these genes, each organism is able to balance metal levels despite fluctuations in the diet or extracellular environment. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of how gene expression can be controlled at a transcriptional, posttranscriptional and posttranslational level in response to metal ions in lower and higher eukaryotes. Specifically, I review what is known about how these metalloregulatory factors sense fluctuations in metal ion levels and how changes in gene expression maintain nutrient homeostasis.
Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210; Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210; Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210. Electronic address: bird.96@osu.edu.
Amanda J
AJ
Bird
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D020871:RNA Stability; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D008670:Metals; D018977:Micronutrients
Copper; Gene expression; Iron; Nutrient sensing; Zinc