Abstract
Iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) and IRP2 are cytoplasmic RNA binding proteins that coordinate cellular iron homeostasis in mammals. We investigated the effect of dietary iron intake on rat liver IRP activity in relation to the abundance of two targets of IRP action, ferritin and mitochondrial aconitase (m-aconitase). Rats were fed diets containing 2, 11, 20, 37 (control), 72 or 107 mg iron/kg diet for 3 wk. RNA binding activity of IRP1 and IRP2 was enhanced one- to twofold in rats fed 11 or 2 mg iron/kg diet compared with control rats. IRP RNA binding activity was inversely correlated to blood hemoglobin levels (r = −0.787; P < 0.0001). Compared with control rats, liver ferritin levels were depressed in rats fed 20 mg iron/kg diet and were undetectable in rats ingesting diets with 11 or 2 mg iron/kg diet. Ferritin concentrations were biphasically related to IRP RNA binding activity with the regulation of IRP occurring before the onset of ferritin accumulation. Iron deficiency caused up to a 50% decline in m-aconitase abundance. IRP RNA binding activity and m-aconitase abundance were inversely correlated (r = −0.751; P < 0.0001). Our results indicate that (1) liver IRP activity is responsive to a range of dietary iron levels, (2) there appears to be a differential effect of IRPs on ferritin and m-aconitase abundance, and (3) activation of IRPs may contribute to the alterations in energy metabolism in iron deficiency through an impairment of m-aconitase synthesis.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.