Open AccessForward genetics used to identify new gene Mon1a with critical role in controlling macrophage iron metabolism and iron recycling from erythrocytes
Author(s) -
McCreedy Rebecca A,
Fleet James C
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
nutrition reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.958
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1753-4887
pISSN - 0029-6643
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00233.x
Subject(s) - biology , gene , macrophage , ferroportin , spleen , metabolism , regulator , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , cell metabolism , cell , biochemistry , iron homeostasis , immunology , in vitro
A recent study used a forward genetics approach to identify a new gene whose protein product controls erythrocyte iron recycling mediated through macrophages in the spleen. Initially the investigators found a genetic region on chromosome 9 accounting for one third of the variation in spleen iron level in mice. Additional approaches to narrow the genomic region identified the gene Mon1a , which codes for a protein that acts as a novel regulator of spleen iron release. Cell‐based studies showed that Mon1a is necessary for vesicular trafficking of proteins, including the iron‐export protein ferroportin, to the macrophage cell membrane. The forward genetics approach, which has currently only been used sparingly by the nutrition research community, offers a powerful and unbiased approach to identifying genes important in nutritional metabolism.