Aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALA synthase, ALAS, or delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase) is an enzyme (EC 2.3.1.37) that catalyzes the synthesis of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) the first common precursor in the biosynthesis of all tetrapyrroles such as hemes, cobalamins and chlorophylls. The reaction is as follows:
Microcytic anaemia is any of several types of anemia characterized by smaller than normal red blood cells. The normal mean corpuscular volume is approximately 80–100 fL. When the MCV is <80 fL, the red cells are described as microcytic and when >100 fL, macrocytic. The MCV is the average red blood cell size.
Sideroblastic anemia, or sideroachrestic anemia, is a form of anemia in which the bone marrow produces ringed sideroblasts rather than healthy red blood cells (erythrocytes). In sideroblastic anemia, the body has iron available but cannot incorporate it into hemoglobin, which red blood cells need in order to transport oxygen efficiently. The disorder may be caused either by a genetic disorder or indirectly as part of myelodysplastic syndrome, which can develop into hematological malignancies.
Hepcidin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HAMP gene. Hepcidin is a key regulator of the entry of iron into the circulation in mammals.
Aminomethyltransferase is an enzyme that catabolizes the creation of methylenetetrahydrofolate. It is part of the glycine decarboxylase complex.
Molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis protein 1 is a protein that in humans and other animals, fungi, and cellular slime molds, is encoded by the MOCS1 gene.
Glutaredoxin 2 (GLRX2) is an enzyme that in humans encoded by the GLRX2 gene. GLRX2, also known as GRX2, is a glutaredoxin family protein and a thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase that maintains cellular thiol homeostasis. This gene consists of four exons and three introns, spanned 10 kilobase pairs, and localized to chromosome 1q31.2–31.3.
NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur protein 2, mitochondrial (NDUFS2) also known as NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase 49 kDa subunit is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NDUFS2 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a core subunit of the mitochondrial membrane respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase. Mutations in this gene are associated with mitochondrial complex I deficiency.
ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 7, mitochondrial is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ABCB7 gene.
NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur protein 7, mitochondrial, also knowns as NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase 20 kDa subunit, Complex I-20kD (CI-20kD), or PSST subunit is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NDUFS7 gene. The NDUFS7 protein is a subunit of NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) also known as Complex I, which is located in the mitochondrial inner membrane and is the largest of the five complexes of the electron transport chain.
NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur protein 6, mitochondrial is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NDUFS6 gene.
Mitoferrin-1 (Mfrn1) is a 38 kDa protein that is encoded by the SLC25A37 gene in humans. It is a member of the Mitochondrial carrier (MC) Superfamily, however, its metal cargo makes it distinct from other members of this family. Mfrn1 plays a key role in mitochondrial iron homeostasis as an iron transporter, importing ferrous iron from the intermembrane space of the mitochondria to the mitochondrial matrix for the biosynthesis of heme groups and Fe-S clusters. This process is tightly regulated, given the redox potential of Mitoferrin's iron cargo. Mfrn1 is paralogous to Mitoferrin-2 (Mfrn2), a 39 kDa protein encoded by the SLC25A28 gene in humans. Mfrn1 is highly expressed in differentiating erythroid cells and in other tissues at low levels, while Mfrn2 is expressed ubiquitously in non-erythroid tissues.
Iron-sulfur cluster assembly enzyme ISCU, mitochondrial is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ISCU gene. It encodes an iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster scaffold protein involved in [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] cluster synthesis and maturation. A deficiency of ISCU is associated with a mitochondrial myopathy with lifelong exercise intolerance where only minor exertion causes tachycardia, shortness of breath, muscle weakness and myalgia.
NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 beta subcomplex subunit 11, mitochondrial is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the NDUFB11 gene. NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1 beta subcomplex subunit 11 is an accessory subunit of the NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) complex, located in the mitochondrial inner membrane. It is also known as Complex I and is the largest of the five complexes of the electron transport chain. NDUFB11 mutations have been associated with linear skin defects with multiple congenital anomalies 3 and mitochondrial complex I deficiency.
Delta-aminolevulinate synthase 2 also known as ALAS2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ALAS2 gene. ALAS2 is an aminolevulinic acid synthase.
Iron-sulfur protein NUBPL (IND1) also known as nucleotide-binding protein-like (NUBPL), IND1 homolog, Nucleotide-binding protein-like or huInd1 is an iron-sulfur (Fe/S) protein that, in humans, is encoded by the NUBPL gene, located on chromosome 14q12. It has an early role in the assembly of the mitochondrial complex I assembly pathway.
Aconitase 2, mitochondrial is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ACO2 gene.
Lipoic acid synthetase is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LIAS gene.
X-linked sideroblastic anemia and spinocerebellar ataxia is a very rare genetic disorder which is characterized by mild sideroblastic anemia, and spinocerebellar ataxia that either doesn't progress or does so very slowly. Additional findings include dysarthria, tremors and eye movement anomalies. It is caused by X-linked recessive mutations in the ABCB7 gene in chromosome X. Only 4 families with the disorder have been described in medical literature.
Tracey Ann Rouault is an American rheumatologist and physician-scientist who researches mammalian iron-sulfur proteins. Rouault is a senior investigator at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and she heads the section on human iron metabolism.
