Potential Implications of Interactions between Fe and S on Cereal Fe Biofortification

Abstract

Iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) are two essential elements for plants, whose interrelation is indispensable for numerous physiological processes. In particular, Fe homeostasis in cereal species is profoundly connected to S nutrition because phytosiderophores, which are the metal chelators required for Fe uptake and translocation in cereals, are derived from a S-containing amino acid, methionine. To date, various biotechnological cereal Fe biofortification strategies involving modulation of genes underlying Fe homeostasis have been reported. Meanwhile, the resultant Fe-biofortified crops have been minimally characterized from the perspective of interaction between Fe and S, in spite of the significance of the crosstalk between the two elements in cereals. Here, we intend to highlight the relevance of Fe and S interrelation in cereal Fe homeostasis and illustrate the potential implications it has to offer for future cereal Fe biofortification studies.

Research and Progress on the Mechanism of Iron Transfer and Accumulation in Rice Grains

“…One grain-nutrient strengthening strategy is to explore and study the increasing contents or bioavailability of grain micronutrient nutrition through genetic and agronomic pathways. In particular, strengthening micronutrient Fe nutrition in food crops can serve as a pathway of mitigation and/or provide a solution to worldwide Fe deficiency [3]. Currently, unprecedented progress in rice high-yield breeding has been achieved, which has regretfully led to the loss of certain excellent and ancient genetic traits.…”

“…Prevention strategies and mitigation measures of adding Fe supplements and optimizing dietary structure have been utilized around the world in the last two decades but have not significantly improved Fe nutrition levels for the global population [2]. Improving the endogenous Fe concentration of staple food should be a main goal for developing countries as a sustainable strategy because dietary components as sources of iron have only resulted in limited improvement [3].…”

“…Based on the extensive consumption and wide variability of the grain, enhancing its endogenous Fe concentration or optimizing the Fe storage form, should be an effective way to increase not only the nutritional Fe supply of the diet but also its biological utilization efficiency. These methods might be basic and feasible ways to alleviate global Fe deficiency, particularly in developing countries [3]. Hence, this study Plants 2021, 10, 2610 2 of 18 investigates differences in Fe concentrations and the food safety range of different genotype rice varieties, describes the mechanisms of Fe uptake, distribution, and accumulation from soil to seed, summarizes the progress of biological strengthening for rice grain Fe in the past two decades, and offers a new direction to focus.…”

New insight of the pathogenesis in osteoarthritis: the intricate interplay of ferroptosis and autophagy mediated by mitophagy/chaperone-mediated autophagy

“…Another characteristic of ferroptosis is iron overload. Under physiological conditions, iron, as an essential trace element, mainly participates in biological processes such as oxygen transport, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, and immune regulation (Li et al, 2019;Kawakami and Bhullar, 2020). Simultaneously, iron, as a cofactor of iron-containing enzymes such as LOXs, EGLN prolyl hydroxylase (PHD), and cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR), regulates the activities of these bonding enzymes through the redox reaction between ferrous (Fe 2+ ) and ferric ions (Fe 3+ ) (Zou and Schreiber, 2020).…”

Theaflavin-3,3 ′ -Digallate Inhibits Erastin-Induced Chondrocytes Ferroptosis via the Nrf2/GPX4 Signaling Pathway in Osteoarthritis

“…Ferroptosis can lead to the progression of various diseases, including ischemia–reperfusion injury [ 5 ], neurodegenerative diseases [ 6 ], and tumors [ 7 ]. Iron is essential for cell physiological and biochemical processes, including participation in oxygen transport, DNA and ATP synthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle [ 8 , 9 ]. In addition, Fe 2+ promotes the lipid peroxidation of saturated fatty acids and the oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria [ 10 , 11 ].…”