Abstract
The distribution of transferrin-donated Fe between the stroma and cytosol compartments of rabbit reticulocytes was studied. In cells with inhibited heme synthesis Fe accumulates in the stroma fraction. The stromal accumulation of Fe was reversible and dependent on the coupled state of mitochondrial respiration. Fe in cytosol is more available for heme synthesis than Fe accumulated in stroma. A hypothesis concerning mitochondrial Fe uptake is proposed, by which the experimental and pathological changes in the intracellular distribution of Fe can be explained.

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