Biofortification of Crops to Fight Anemia: Role of Vacuolar Iron Transporters

Abstract

Plant-based foods provide all the crucial nutrients for human health. Among these, iron (Fe) is one of the essential micronutrients for plants and humans. A lack of Fe is a major limiting factor affecting crop quality, production, and human health. There are people who suffer from various health problems due to the low intake of Fe in their plant-based foods. Anemia has become a serious public health issue due to Fe deficiency. Enhancing Fe content in the edible part of food crops is a major thrust area for scientists worldwide. Recent progress in nutrient transporters has provided an opportunity to resolve Fe deficiency or nutritional problems in plants and humans. Understanding the structure, function, and regulation of Fe transporters is essential to address Fe deficiency in plants and to improve Fe content in staple food crops. In this review, we summarized the role of Fe transporter family members in the uptake, cellular and intercellular movement, and long-distance transport of Fe in plants. We draw insights into the role of vacuolar membrane transporters in the crop for Fe biofortification. We also provide structural and functional insights into cereal crops’ vacuolar iron transporters (VITs). This review will help highlight the importance of VITs for improving the Fe biofortification of crops and alleviating Fe deficiency in humans.

Research progress on iron absorption, transport, and molecular regulation strategy in plants

“…Fe deficiency is considered to be the first of the three “hidden hunger” in the world, with approximately one in five people worldwide suffering from iron deficiencyanemia ( Lowe N.M., 2021 ). As the fundamental food source for animals and human beings, plants can directly absorb iron nutrition from the soil environment and are direct carriers of iron received from the soil ( Krishna et al, 2023 ). Iron is the first identified essential plant element that plays an important role in the whole plant growth cycle, and it is involved in the process of life activities such as protein synthesis, DNA replication, and respiration in the plant ( Takanori et al, 2018 ), as well as in the composition of chlorophyll and plays an important role in biological nitrogen fixation.…”