PUMPING IRON IN THE 90S

The role of iron in cell division, cell death and human disease has re cently gained increased attention. The best studied process for iron u ptake into mammalian cells involves transferrin and its receptor. This review discusses evidence supporting the existence of other routes by which iron can enter mammalian cells. Specifically, iron uptake by th e cell-surface GPI-linked transferrin homologue, melanotransferrin or p97, is described and possible functions of this transferrin-independe nt pathway are proposed.