Cells use a little-known molecule to protect themselves from iron overload
Iron is essential. Our cells need it to produce energy, carry oxygen throughout the body and power countless chemical reactions that sustain life. But this metal has a dark side. When too much of it is left free inside cells, it can trigger destructive reactions that break down DNA, proteins and even cell membranes.
Cells safeguard themselves against excessive iron by employing a lesser-known molecule called polyamines, as revealed by researchers at Whitehead Institute. Polyamines function akin to secure storage facilities for iron, encapsulating it in a non-reactive state until the cells require it. This discovery, published in the journal Cell, unravels a long-standing enigma surrounding the high concentrations of polyamines found in cells and introduces a novel safeguard mechanism against iron toxicity.
The findings may aid in the development of more effective cancer treatments and shed light on diseases such as early-onset Parkinson's.
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