Mitochondrial iron metabolism in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Iron is fundamental to many biological processes, but is also detrimental a s it fosters the synthesis of destructive oxygen radicals. Recent experimen ts have increased our knowledge of the critical process of regulation of mi tochondrial iron metabolism. A number of genes directly involved in iron ho meostasis in this organelle have been identified. Intriguingly, a minor Hsp 70 molecular chaperone of the mitochondrial matrix has been implicated as a player in this process as well.