Iron uptake mediated by the plant-derived chelator nicotianamine in the small intestine.

ABSTRACT: Iron is an essential metal for all living organisms that is absorbed in the intestinal cells as a heme-chelated or free form. It is unclear how important plant-derived chelators, such as nicotianamine (NA), an organic small molecule that is ubiquitous in crops, vegetables, and various other foods, contribute to iron bioavailability in mammals. We performed electrophysiological assays with Xenopus laevis oocytes and radioactive tracer experiments with Caco-2 cells. The findings revealed that the proton-coupled amino acid transporter SLC36A1 (PAT1) transports iron in the form of NA-Fe (II) complex in vitro. Decreased expression of hPAT1 by RNA interference in Caco-2 cells reduced the uptake of NA-⁵⁹Fe (II) complex. The uptake of inorganic ⁵⁹Fe (II) was relatively unaffe

SUBMITTER: Murata Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7948497 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature