TY - JOUR AU - Lopes, Tiago JS AU - Luganskaja, Tatyana AU - Vujić Spasić, Maja AU - Hentze, Matthias W. AU - Muckenthaler, Martina U. AU - Schümann, Klaus AU - Reich, Jens G. PY - 2010 DA - 2010/08/13 TI - Systems analysis of iron metabolism: the network of iron pools and fluxes JO - BMC Systems Biology SP - 112 VL - 4 IS - 1 AB - Every cell of the mammalian organism needs iron as trace element in numerous oxido-reductive processes as well as for transport and storage of oxygen. The very versatility of ionic iron makes it a toxic entity which can catalyze the production of radicals that damage vital membranous and macromolecular assemblies in the cell. The mammalian organism maintains therefore a complex regulatory network of iron uptake, excretion and intra-body distribution. Intracellular regulation in different cell types is intertwined with a global hormonal signalling structure. Iron deficiency as well as excess of iron are frequent and serious human disorders. They can affect every cell, but also the organism as a whole. SN - 1752-0509 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-0509-4-112 DO - 10.1186/1752-0509-4-112 ID - Lopes2010 ER -