Novel biosensor enables real-time tracking of iron (II) in living cells

Iron is an essential trace element in biological cells. The concentration of the element and its so-called redox state – it can exist either in a doubly ionized state like iron (II) (Fe2+) or in a triply ionized state like iron (III) (Fe3+) – play a key role in metabolic processes such as cellular respiration and in responses to microbial stress.