Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death, distinct from apoptosis, necroptosis and autophagy. It is an iron-dependent process that results from the loss of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity, leading to accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Products
Background
Literature (3)
Pathways (1)

Ferroptosis Inhibitors

Cat. No. Product Name / Activity
0970 Cycloheximide
Inhibitor of ferroptosis; inhbits protein synthesis
5245 Ebselen
Inhibitor of ferroptosis; glutathione peroxidase mimic
5180 Ferrostatin 1
Selective inhibitor of erastin induced ferroptosis
6113 Liproxstatin-1 hydrochloride
Potent ferroptosis inhibitor
2850 PD 146176
Inhibits ferroptosis; selective 15-lipoxygenase inhibitor
6002 Trolox
Inhibitor of ferroptosis; antioxidant
3308 Zileuton
Inhibits ferroptosis; 5-LOX inhibitor

Ferroptosis Activators

Cat. No. Product Name / Activity
5449 Erastin
Ferroptosis activator; also mitochondrial VDAC modulator
6280 FIN 56
Ferroptosis activator
7941 FSEN 1
Induces ferroptosis; inhibits FSP1
0218 L-Glutamic acid
Induces ferroptosis; endogenous, non-selective agonist
7162 iFSP1
Ferroptosis inducer; inhibits ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1)
6954 L-Buthionine sulfoximine
Induces ferroptosis by inhibiting glutathione synthesis
7821 ML 162
Induces ferroptosis; inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)
6429 ML 210
Induces ferroptosis in tumor initiation cells; glutathione peroxidase inhibitor
6118 1S,3R-RSL3
Induces ferroptosis; inhibits glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)
1965 Simvastatin
Induces ferroptosis; AMPK activator; also HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
6814 Sorafenib
Induces ferroptosis; also Raf-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, PDGFR-β, Flt-3 and cKIT inhibitor
4935 Sulfasalazine
Ferroptosis inducer; cystine-glutamate antiporter inhibitor and inhibitor of NF-κB activation

Controls

Cat. No. Product Name / Activity
6687 1R,3R-RSL3
Negative control for 1S,3R-RSL3 (Cat. No. 6118)

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death, distinct from apoptosis, necroptosis and autophagy. It is an iron-dependent process that results from the loss of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity, leading to accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

GPX4 is a selenoprotein that reduces hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides, while converting reduced glutathione (GSH) to its oxidized form; oxidized glutathione (glutathione disulfide) is recycled by glutathione reductase and NADPH/H+. Depletion of GSH leads to the inactivation of GPX4 with the resultant accumulation of ROS from lipid peroxidation and subsequent ferroptosis. GPX4 inactivation also causes depletion of arachidonic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids and this also promotes ferroptosis.


Molecular Pathways of Ferroptosis Regulation

Molecular Pathways of Ferroptosis Regulation

Figure 1: Molecular Pathways of Ferroptosis Regulation. DMT1, Divalent metal transporter 1; Glu, Glutamate; GPX4, Glutathione peroxidase 4; GSH, Glutathione; HMG-CoA, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase; IPP, Isopentenyl pyrophosphate; ROS, Reactive oxygen species; Se, Selenocysteine; System xc-, glutamate/cystine antiporter; TFR1, membrane protein transferrin receptor 1.

Adapted from Yang and Stockwell (2016) Trends Cell Biol. 26 165.


The mevalonate pathway is an important regulator of ferroptosis, as the synthesis of selenoproteins, such as GPX4, is dependent on isopentenyl pyrophosphate, a product of the mevalonate pathway. Isopentenyl pyrophosphate acts as a donor in the incorporation of selenocysteine into selenoproteins by the enzyme tRNA isopentenyl transferase. The glutamate/cysteine antiporter (system Xc-) is also an important regulator of ferroptosis. Inhibition of this transporter, by increased extracellular glutamate for example, depletes the intracellular pool of cysteine, which is a precursor of glutathione synthesis. This in turn depletes glutathione leading to inhibition of GPX4. The MAPK pathway may also have role in ferroptosis regulation.

While iron is a requirement for ferroptosis, its role in the process is not fully understood. It has been proposed that iron-containing enzymes associated with lipid redox regulation are activated during ferroptosis. Excessive iron contributes to ferroptosis, while iron chelators inhibit Erastin-induced ferroptosis.

Ferroptotic cells appear rounded, with no rupture of cell membranes. Mitochondria are smaller than normal, have dense mitochondrial membranes and lack cristae, while the nucleus appears normal. Ferroptosis is involved in many physiological and pathological processes including cancer cell death, neurotoxicity, neurodegenerative disease, acute kidney disease and T-cell immunity, among others. Inhibition of ferroptosis therefore offers a potential therapeutic approach for a variety of conditions.

Literature for Ferroptosis

Tocris offers the following scientific literature for Ferroptosis to showcase our products. We invite you to request* your copy today!

*Please note that Tocris will only send literature to established scientific business / institute addresses.


MAPK Signaling Scientific Review

MAPK Signaling Scientific Review

MAP kinase signaling is integral to the regulation of numerous cellular processes such as proliferation and differentiation, and as a result is an important focus of cancer and immunology research. Updated for 2016, this review discusses the regulation of the MAPK pathway and properties of MAPK cascades. Compounds available from Tocris are listed.

Alzheimer's Disease Poster

Alzheimer's Disease Poster

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia, affecting approximately 30% of individuals aged over 85 years. This poster summarizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms of AD.

Parkinson's Disease Poster

Parkinson's Disease Poster

Parkinson's disease (PD) causes chronic disability and is the second most common neurodegenerative condition. This poster outlines the neurobiology of the disease, as well as highlighting current therapeutic treatments for symptomatic PD, and emerging therapeutic strategies to delay PD onset and progression.

Pathways for Ferroptosis

MAPK Signaling Pathway

MAPK Signaling Pathway

The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway evokes an intracellular signaling cascade in response to extracellular stimuli such as heat and stress. It can influence cell division, metabolism and survival.