The role o f iron in cell division, cell death and human disease has recently gained increased attention. The best studied process for iron uptake into mammalian cells involves traps ferrin and its receptor. This review discusses evidence supporting the existence of other routes by which iron can enter mammalian cells. Specifically, iron uptake by the cell-surface GPI-linked traps ferrin homologue, melanotransferrin or p97, is described and possible functions of this traps ferrin-independent pathway are proposed.