A precious metal: iron, an essential nutrient for all cells

Iron is an important cofactor required for a no. of essential cell junctions and hence is a vital nutrient. However, iron can also be dangerous as a catalyst of free radical reactions. Accordingly, intracellular iron homeostasis and body iron balance are tightly regulated. In this review, we presented an overview of the remarkable new insights that over the last years have been gained into the multifaceted and sophisticated mol. mechanisms controlling iron acquisition, storage and release. We also reviewed the data about nutrition-related abnormalities of iron metab., such as iron overload and deficiency. Finally, we discussed how pathogenic microorganisms and host cells compete for iron, a battle whose outcome has a relevant role in infection disease.