Term: iron-sulfur proteins
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.IT06780

Definition:
Proteins in which non-haem iron is coordinated with cysteine sulfur and usually also with inorganic sulfur. Divided into three major categories: rubredoxins; 'simple iron-sulfur proteins', containing only iron-sulfur clusters; and 'complex iron-sulfur proteins', containing additional active redox centres such as flavin, molybdenum or haem. In most iron-sulfur proteins, the clusters function as electron-transfer groups, but in others they have other functions, such as catalysis of hydratase/dehydratase reactions, maintenance of protein structure, or regulation of activity.

Related Terms:
1) proteins (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04898-1).
2) haem (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.H02714).
3) catalysis (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00874).
4) proteins (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04898-2).
5) iron-sulfur clusters (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.IT06779).
6) flavin (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.F02423).

Source: PAC, 1997, 69, 1251. 'Glossary of terms used in bioinorganic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1997)' on page 1281 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199769061251)

Citation: 'iron-sulfur proteins' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.IT06780

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