Iron in coastal marine ecosystems. Role in oxidant stress

GONZÁLEZ, P.M.; WILHELMS-DICK, D.; ABELE, D. Y PUNTARULO, S.

Oxidative Stress in Aquatic Ecosystems

Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Lugar: West Sussex; Año: 2012; p. 115 - 126

Fe constitutes around 6% of the earth crust and is mobilized by erosion and transported to the ocean mainly by dust deposition, in the oxidized Fe3+ form. Fe was recognized as an important micronutrient, and a deficiency in Fe has been suggested to limit primary productivity in some ocean regions. Marine animals incorporate Fe, either by ingestion of inorganic particles, through the food chain, or by absorption of dissolved Fe into tissues. Since the chemical properties of Fe leads to limitations to the cellular accumulation of this element, storage of Fe in tissues of marine animals includes a network of transporting and binding proteins, in addition to the presence of a labile Fe pool (LIP). To cope with the insolubility and potential toxicity of Fe, molecules such as ferritins (Ft), are involved in oxidative protection by sequestering Fe. The Fe forming the LIP can act catalytically to generate active oxygen radicals (ROS) that cause severe damage to membranes, proteins, and DNA. Many cellular detoxification mechanisms are known to be present in invertebrates. Different species may employ different detoxification systems. This chapter will be dedicated to overview the Fe presence in the marine environment, and the Fe-related oxidative metabolism produced in marine biota.