Bifunctional iron sensor that switches between 2 activities depending on iron availability ( ). Iron deprivation, promotes its mRNA binding activity through which it regulates the expression of genes involved in iron uptake, sequestration and utilization ( , ). Binds to iron-responsive elements (IRES) in the untranslated region of target mRNAs preventing for instance the translation of ferritin and aminolevulinic acid synthase and stabilizing the transferrin receptor mRNA ( , ).
Conversely, when cellular iron levels are high, binds a 4Fe-4S cluster which precludes RNA binding activity and promotes the aconitase activity, the isomerization of citrate to isocitrate via cis-aconitate.
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Cytosol