The iron will of the research community: Advances in iron nutrition and interactions in lockdown times

Abstract

Iron is an essential nutrient for most forms of life, and this is particularly the case for photosynthetic organisms such as plants and algae. Iron cofactors including haem and FeS clusters play key roles in photosynthetic electron transfer, as well as in electron transfer in the mitochondria to make ATP. The iron is, along with other mineral nutrients, obtained from the soil, and distributed where required. This is in contrast to mammals, like ourselves, who obtain iron from their food, including vegetables.