Iron regulatory protein-1 (IRP-1) is a cytosolic RNAbinding protein that is a regulator of iron homeostasis in mammalian cells. IRP-1 binds to RNA structures, known as iron-responsive elements, located in the untranslated regions of specific mRNAs, and it regulates the translation or stability of these mRNAs. Iron regulates IRP-1 activity by converting it from an RNA-binding apoprotein into a [4Fe-4S] cluster protein exhibiting aconitase activity. IRP-1 is widely found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here, we report the biochemical characterization and regulation of an IRP-1 homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans (GEI-22/ACO-1). GEI-22/ACO-1 is expressed in the cytosol of cells of the hypodermis and the intestine. Like mammalian IRP-1/aconitases, GEI-22/ ACO-1 exhibits aconitase activity and is post-translationally regulated by iron. Although GEI-22/ACO-1 shares striking resemblance to mammalian IRP-1, it fails to bind RNA. This is consistent with the lack of iron-responsive elements in the C. elegans ferritin genes, ftn-1 and ftn-2. While mammalian ferritin H and L mRNAs are translationally regulated by iron, the amounts of C. elegans ftn-1 and ftn-2 mRNAs are increased by iron and decreased by iron chelation. Excess iron did not significantly alter worm development but did shorten their life span. These studies indicated that iron homeostasis in C. elegans shares some similarities with those of vertebrates.Iron is an essential element required for growth and survival of most organisms. The importance of iron is implicit in the role it plays in oxygen transport and heme synthesis as well as its ability to serve as a cofactor for enzymes involved in a variety of biological processes including DNA synthesis, energy production, and neurotransmitter synthesis. Abnormally high concentration of cellular iron is toxic due to its ability to catalyze the generation of free radicals that damage DNA, lipids, and proteins. In humans, the accumulation of excess cellular iron can result in cirrhosis, arthritis, cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus, and increased risk of cancer and heart disease. To provide adequate iron for cellular needs yet prevent the accumulation of excess iron, the concentration of iron within cells is tightly controlled.In vertebrates, the iron regulatory proteins 1 and 2 (IRP-1 and IRP-2) 1 regulate iron homeostasis. IRPs are cytosolic RNAbinding proteins that regulate the translation or the stability of mRNAs encoding proteins involved in iron and energy homeostasis (1-4). IRPs bind to RNA stem-loop structures, known as iron-responsive elements (IREs), that are located in either the 5Ј-or 3Ј-untranslated regions (UTRs) of specific mRNAs. These mRNAs encode proteins involved in iron storage (ferritin), iron utilization (erythroid aminolevilunate synthase and mitochondrial aconitase), and iron transport (transferrin receptor and divalent metal transporter-1). When iron is scarce, IRP binding to the 5Ј IRE in ferritin mRNA represses translation, whereas IRP binding to the 3Ј IREs in the transferrin receptor mRNA...