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Cell Study Reveals Role Researchers found that depleting cells of polyamines, molecules that hold reactive iron, led to an increase in labile iron. Cells also became more dependent on GPX4, an enzyme that reduces oxidized membrane fats. Iron is essential for cells, but its reactive part triggers chain reactions that damage membrane fats, leading to ferroptosis. The team of Ankur Jain conducted a genome-wide CRISPR screen to determine the purpose of the large polyamine reserve. They found that GPX4 was crucial, and its genetic loss or blockade with drugs was fatal to cells with depleted polyamines. Adding spermidine and ferroptosis-inhibiting substances restored cell viability. The authors linked the polyamine reserve to membrane protection against oxidation. They investigated the cause of GPX4 dependence in iron and found that depleting polyamines increased the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron. A fluorescent dye showed more reactive iron, and deferroxamine, an iron chelator, restored cell viability when GPX4 was blocked. 🔗 Read original →