Why does the human body need iron?

Chaos' lil bro Order · Mar 9, 2007

As far as I know Iron is used in many enzymes as the metal complex. Beyond this are there any biological uses for iron? All uses appreciated, ty.

xiankai · Mar 9, 2007

here the most prominent example i know of is its presence in haemoglobin, a protein that makes use of iron to bind oxygen and transport it around the body

ShawnD · Mar 10, 2007

Chaos' lil bro Order said: ↑

As far as I know Iron is used in many enzymes as the metal complex. Beyond this are there any biological uses for iron?

Nope. Complexes are pretty much all iron does. The above poster's example of hemoglobin is an example of an iron complex.

Chaos' lil bro Order · Mar 10, 2007

ShawnD said: ↑

Nope. Complexes are pretty much all iron does. The above poster's example of hemoglobin is an example of an iron complex.

Yes, but hemoglobin is a protein, not an enzyme, so his post is a valid example of another use of iron.

Incidentally, have you ever noticed that if you smell your finger after picking at a scab with a little blood on it, that is smells strongly like iron?

quetzalcoatl9 · Mar 10, 2007

Yes, but hemoglobin is a protein, not an enzyme, so his post is a valid example of another use of iron.

But the iron is still acting through forming a complex - in this case, it is actually a heme porphyrin. The fact that the iron isn't performing a reaction is a mere technicallity - there are many iron-porphyrins that DO catalyze reactions.

Moonbear · Mar 10, 2007

Chaos' lil bro Order said: ↑

Yes, but hemoglobin is a protein, not an enzyme, so his post is a valid example of another use of iron.

Enzymes are proteins too. But hemoglobin is not an enzyme. Regardless, I think you've gotten the answer you were seeking, correct?

Chaos' lil bro Order · Mar 13, 2007

Do I have to draw a Venh Diagram, I'd rather not.