The principal objective of the 2005 Cell Biology of Metals Gordon Conference is to inaugurate a new Gordon Conference on a rapidly expanding sub-discipline within metals in biology. The meeting will bring together scientists, ranging from established investigators to graduate student, to present and discuss the most recent advances in cell physiology of predominantly copper, iron and zinc ions. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems will be considered although this first meeting has some emphasis on the latter. The research area encompassed by the cell biology of metals is focused on how cells achieve metal ion homeostasis, how cells encourage the correct metals to locate to the correct destinations including how cells specifically sense diverse metal ions in the homeostatic control mechanisms. Sessions will deal with metal ion homeostasis in the central nervous system, intertissue regulation of metal ion homeostasis, transport of metal ions and metal ion complexes, intracellular trafficking of metal ions, metal ion signaling and global analyses of metals in cells. An important goal is to address the interconnections that exist in homeostatic mechanisms of different metal ions. The meeting aims to draw together the investigators and trainees carrying out research on the mentioned topics in an attempt to promote communication, collaborations and share advances in methodologies. The novelty of the Cell Biology of Metals conference lies in the unique focus on cell biological issues related to metal ions and the focus on multiple physiological metal ions.