Biogenesis of iron-sulfur proteins in eukaryotes: a novel task of mitochondria that is inherited from bacteria

Fe/S clusters are co-factors of numerous proteins with important functions in metabolism, electron transport and regulation of gene expression. Presum ably, Fe/S proteins have occurred early in evolution and are present in cel ls of virtually all species. Biosynthesis of these proteins is a complex pr ocess involving numerous components. In mitochondria, this process is accom plished by the so-called ISC (iron-sulfur cluster assembly) machinery which is derived from the bacterial ancestor of the organelles and is conserved from lower to higher eukaryotes. The mitochondrial ISC machinery is respons ible for biogenesis iron-sulfur proteins both within and outside the organe lle. Maturation of the latter proteins involves the ABC transporter Atm1p w hich presumably exports iron-sulfur clusters from the organelle. This revie w summarizes recent developments in our understanding of the biogenesis of iron-sulfur proteins both within bacteria and eukaryotes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.