Metal Acquisition and Availability in the Mitochondria

The various paradigms that ensure specificity in metalation reactions during metalloprotein biosynthesis and the available literature on bioavailable metal ion pools in cells, with particular focus on the mitochondrial organelle has been reported. Diverse metal ions participate in multiple roles in protein structure and function. The metalation reactions are expected to occur during protein biosynthesis or shortly thereafter, since many metal cofactors are important determinants of protein stability. The importance of metalation reactions in diverse compartments is suggestive that regulatory steps may be significant. Formation of heme and Fe/S centers occurs within the mitochondrial matrix. Proper metal ion metalation reactions within the mitochondrial matrix are therefore dependent on the control of bioavailable pools of metal ions.