Iron Carriers and Iron Proteins

'Iron Carriers & Iron Proteins' is a compilation of reviews on the biochemistry of iron. Iron is an absolutely required trace element in essentially all life forms. Because iron in the natural environment occurs as the insoluble ferric hydroxide, biological systems have evolved specially designed molecules for the solubilization, transport, storage, and utilization of this element. The five main topics of this book treat the accumulation of iron by siderophores, the cellular storage of this essential element in ferritins, the intra- and inter- cellular transport of iron by transferrins, and the utilization of iron in proteins and enzymes. The application of sophisticated spectroscopic and instrumental techniques as well as thorough analyses of experimental data are presented in detail to provide the most comprehensive reviews of siderophores, ferritins, transferrins, and iron enzymes. Each chapter, using a historical perspective, presents the current state of research on their structural, physical, chemical, and biological properties.