We conducted a genome-wide screen in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae of 4,792 homozygous diploid deletions to identify genes that function in iron metabolism. Strains unable to grow on iron-restricted medium contained deletions of genes that encode the structural components of the high affinity iron transport system (FET3, FTR1), the iron-sensing transcription factor AFT1 or genes required for the assembly of the transport system. We also identified genes that were not previously known to play a role in iron metabolism. Deletion of the gene CWH36 resulted in a severe growth defect on iron-limited medium, as well as increased sensitivity to Congo red and calcofluor white. The ability of yeast to grow on iron-limited medium requires the activity of the high affinity iron transport system. This system is comprised of two plasma membrane proteins, the multicopper oxidase Fet3p and the transmembrane permease Ftr1p (1, 2). The genes that encode these proteins are under the control of the iron-sensing transcription factor Aft1p (3). In the absence of iron, Aft1p translocates from the cytosol to the nucleus and induces the transcription of at least 15 different genes that comprise the iron-regulon. Fet3p and Ftr1p must be coordinately synthesized for both proteins to be properly targeted through the secretory apparatus to the cell surface (4, 5). The activity of the multicopper oxidase Fet3p requires copper and copper loading of apoFet3p is dependent upon the expression of genes involved in copper transport. Copper enters the cell via the cell surface copper transporters Ctr1p, Ctr3p, and can be transported into the post-Golgi compartment in which apoFet3p is loaded via the copper transporter Ccc2p (1, 2, 6). Proper targeting of the Fet3p/Ftr1p complex to the cell surface also requires genes involved in vesicular traffic. In the absence of proper copper homeostasis or appropriate vesicular trafficking, an inactive apoFet3/Ftr1p complex is translocated to the cell surface (7,8), and cells are unable to grow on low iron medium.To identify genes required for proper targeting/expression of Fet3p, we took advantage of the low iron growth phenotype of cells lacking a functional Fet3p. Using a genomic screen, which employed an arrayed collection of homozygous diploid deletion strains, we identified genes required for growth on iron-limited medium. In particular, we characterize a novel gene that when deleted leads to defective vacuolar acidification, failure to copper load apoFet3, and consequently defective iron transport. his3⌬1/his3⌬1, ura3⌬0/ura3⌬0, leu2⌬0/leu2⌬0, lys2⌬0/ϩ, met15⌬0/ϩ) from Research Genetics was employed for the genetic screen. A 96-pin replicator was used to transfer 1 l of a cell suspension from wells in a master plate to wells in a 96-well plate containing 100 l of YPD (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone (Difco) 1.0% agarose, and 2.0% dextrose)/well. Cells were grown to saturation in a 30°C incubator (usually 48 h). The volume in the well was then brought to ϳ250 l (outside wells lost more liquid ...