Biomaterial Database

Characterization of transferrin-independent iron transport in K562 cells. Unique properties provide evidence for multiple pathways of iron uptake. 1993

R S Inman, and M Wessling-Resnick

Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

The present study characterizes the transport of nontransferrin (non-Tf) iron by K562 cells. Accumulation of radiolabel by cells incubated with 55Fe-nitrilotriacetate (NTA) is a saturable process that is time and temperature dependent (Ea approximately 20 kcal/mol). Initial rate analysis of iron influx yields values of Vmax = 855 fmol/min/10(6) cells and apparent Km = 0.54 microM. NHCL4 and chloroquine, agents that block cellular acquisition of iron from Tf, do not interfere with assimilation from FeNTA, demonstrating that uptake is truly independent of the Tf-mediated pathway. Furthermore, the inactivation of this transport mechanism by limited proteolytic digestion on ice indicates that specific cell surface proteins are involved. The extent of radiolabel incorporation into heme and ferritin is the same regardless of whether K562 cells acquire iron from 55FeNTA via the cell surface mechanism or from 55Fe-Tf via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Unlike other Tf-independent iron transport pathways that have been described, the K562 cell transport mechanism is not inhibited by divalent cations such as Ni2+, Co2+, or Mn2+. Uptake from 55FeNTA can be blocked by Cu2+ but at concentrations > 1500-fold molar excess. However, Cd2+ is a fairly specific inhibitor of 55Fe uptake by K562 cells (IC50 approximately 50 microM). Additionally, the K562 cell transport mechanism is not Ca2+ dependent and does not appear to be regulated by extracellular iron salts, in contrast to features noted for non-Tf iron uptake by fibroblasts (Sturrock, A., Alexander, J., Lamb, J., Craven, C. M., and Kaplan, J. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 3139-3145; Kaplan, J., Jordan, I., and Sturrock, A. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 2997-3004). These unique characteristics of the K562 cell uptake mechanism suggest that multiple transport systems function in Tf-independent iron assimilation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007501	Iron	A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN.	Iron-56,Iron 56
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D009571	Nitrilotriacetic Acid	A derivative of acetic acid, N(CH2COOH)3. It is a complexing (sequestering) agent that forms stable complexes with Zn2+. (From Miall's Dictionary of Chemistry, 5th ed.)	Aluminum Nitrilotriacetate,Dysprosium Nitrilotriacetate,Trisodium Nitrilotriacetate,Acid, Nitrilotriacetic,Nitrilotriacetate, Aluminum,Nitrilotriacetate, Dysprosium,Nitrilotriacetate, Trisodium
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D004915	Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute	A myeloproliferative disorder characterized by neoplastic proliferation of erythroblastic and myeloblastic elements with atypical erythroblasts and myeloblasts in the peripheral blood.	Di Guglielmo's Disease,Erythremic Myelosis,Erythroblastic Leukemia, Acute,Erythroleukemia,Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute, M6,Myeloid Leukemia, Acute, M6,Di Guglielmo Disease,Acute Erythroblastic Leukemia,Acute Erythroblastic Leukemias,Di Guglielmos Disease,Disease, Di Guglielmo,Disease, Di Guglielmo's,Erythremic Myeloses,Erythroblastic Leukemias, Acute,Erythroleukemias,Leukemia, Acute Erythroblastic,Leukemias, Acute Erythroblastic,Myeloses, Erythremic,Myelosis, Erythremic
D005290	Ferric Compounds	Inorganic or organic compounds containing trivalent iron.	Compounds, Ferric
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001205	Ascorbic Acid	A six carbon compound related to glucose. It is found naturally in citrus fruits and many vegetables. Ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient in human diets, and necessary to maintain connective tissue and bone. Its biologically active form, vitamin C, functions as a reducing agent and coenzyme in several metabolic pathways. Vitamin C is considered an antioxidant.	Vitamin C,Ascorbic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Ferrous Ascorbate,Hybrin,L-Ascorbic Acid,Magnesium Ascorbate,Magnesium Ascorbicum,Magnesium di-L-Ascorbate,Magnorbin,Sodium Ascorbate,Acid, Ascorbic,Acid, L-Ascorbic,Ascorbate, Ferrous,Ascorbate, Magnesium,Ascorbate, Sodium,L Ascorbic Acid,Magnesium di L Ascorbate,di-L-Ascorbate, Magnesium
D001692	Biological Transport	The movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) through a biological system at the cellular level. The transport can be across cell membranes and epithelial layers. It also can occur within intracellular compartments and extracellular compartments.	Transport, Biological,Biologic Transport,Transport, Biologic
D014168	Transferrin	An iron-binding beta1-globulin that is synthesized in the LIVER and secreted into the blood. It plays a central role in the transport of IRON throughout the circulation. A variety of transferrin isoforms exist in humans, including some that are considered markers for specific disease states.	Siderophilin,Isotransferrin,Monoferric Transferrins,Serotransferrin,Transferrin B,Transferrin C,beta 2-Transferrin,beta-1 Metal-Binding Globulin,tau-Transferrin,Globulin, beta-1 Metal-Binding,Metal-Binding Globulin, beta-1,Transferrins, Monoferric,beta 1 Metal Binding Globulin,beta 2 Transferrin,tau Transferrin