[1] Members of the ferric uptake regulator family are transcription factors that primarily exert their regulatory effects as repressors: when bound to their cognate metal ion, they are capable of binding DNA and preventing expression of the genes they regulate, but under low concentrations of metal, they undergo a conformational change that prevents DNA binding and lifts the repression.

[2][3] In the case of the ferric uptake regulator protein itself, its immediate downstream target is a noncoding RNA called RyhB.

The magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 Fur is a key regulatory protein involved in maintaining iron homeostasis.

Additionally, it serves as a model and foundation for other regulators that are able to sense changes in iron, zinc, and magnesium.

These residues interact with the manganese ion to create binding site 1 in the ferric uptake regulator protein.