Iron is a constituent of many metalloproteins involved in vital metabolic functions. While
adequate iron supply is critical for health, accumulation of excess iron promotes oxidative
stress and causes tissue injury and disease. Therefore, iron homeostasis needs to be tightly
controlled. Mammals have developed elegant homeostatic mechanisms at the cellular and
systemic level, which serve to satisfy metabolic needs for iron and to minimize the risks
posed by iron's toxicity. Cellular iron metabolism is post-transcriptionally controlled by iron …