Autobiography Of Editorial Board Members
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World J Biol Chem. May 26, 2010; 1(5): 196-200
Published online May 26, 2010. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v1.i5.196
Simon Labbé’s work on iron and copper homeostasis
Simon Labbé
Simon Labbé, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada
Author contributions: Labbé S solely contributed to this manuscript.
Supported by The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (MOP-36450 to Labbé S), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (MOP-238238-2010 to Labbé S), and the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (Senior Investigator Scholarship to Labbé S)
Correspondence to: Simon Labbé, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke J1H 5N4, Canada. simon.labbe@usherbrooke.ca
Telephone: +1-819-5645281 Fax: +1-819-5645340
Received: May 8, 2010
Revised: May 18, 2010
Accepted: May 25, 2010
Published online: May 26, 2010
Abstract

Iron and copper have a wealth of functions in biological systems, which makes them essential micronutrients for all living organisms. Defects in iron and copper homeostasis are directly responsible for diseases, and have been linked to impaired development, metabolic syndromes and fungal virulence. Consequently, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular bases of iron- and copper-dependent proteins in living systems. Simon Labbé maintains parallel programs on iron and copper homeostasis using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Schiz. pombe) as a model system. The study of fission yeast transition-metal metabolism has been successful, not only in discerning the genes and pathways functioning in Schiz. pombe, but also the genes and pathways that are active in mammalian systems and for other fungi.

Keywords: Iron and copper transport systems; Metalloregulatory sensors; Iron- and copper-responsive genes; Metal trafficking pathways; Metalloenzymes; Fungi as model systems