The Fe(III) ion binds to amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and induces significant aggregation of the peptide. In addition to the Aβ aggregation, the redox activity of the Fe(III) ion bound to Aβ is considered to play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In order to understand the role of Fe(III) in Aβ aggregation and neurotoxicity, we have examined the Fe(III)-binding mode of human Aβ by Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of Fe(III)-Aβ complexes excited at 514.5nm are dominated by resonance Raman bands of metal-bound tyrosinate, evidencing that the Fe(III) ion primarily binds to Aβ via the phenolic oxygen of Tyr10. In addition, carboxylate groups of glutamate/aspartate side chains are also bound to Fe(III). On the other hand, histidine residues in the N-terminal hydrophilic region of Aβ do not bind to Fe(III). These results are in sharp contrast to the Zn(II)- or Cu(II)-induced aggregation of Aβ, in which histidine residues act as the primary metal binding sites. The Fe(III)-Tyr10 binding may play an important role in Aβ aggregation and in decreasing the reduction potential of the bound Fe(III) ion.