Is ferritin a molecule?

Ferritin is a globular protein complex consisting of 24 protein subunits forming a hollow nanocage with multiple metal–protein interactions.

Is transferrin a molecule?

Serum transferrin is a metal-binding glycoprotein, molecular weight ca. 80,000, whose primary function is the transport of iron in the plasma of vertebrates.

What is the function of ferritin?

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells. You need iron to make healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Iron is also important for healthy muscles, bone marrow, and organ function.

What is the role of transferrin and ferritin in iron transport and storage?

Transferrin is the major iron transport protein (transports iron through blood). Fe3+ is the form of iron that binds to transferrin, so the Fe2+ transported through ferroportin must be oxidized to Fe3+. Ferritin is the primary iron storage protein, but at higher concentrations, iron is also stored in hemosiderin2.

Does ferritin bind to transferrin?

Iron in the labile pool that exceeds requirement for the synthesis of functional heme and nonheme iron-containing proteins is stored within the iron-storage protein, ferritin. Such a binding inhibits translation of ferritin mRNA and stabilizes the mRNA for transferrin receptors.

Does transferrin bind ferritin?

Most of the transferrin-bound iron is used for the synthesis of hemoglobin by developing erythroid cells. Such a binding inhibits translation of ferritin mRNA and stabilizes the mRNA for transferrin receptors.

How does transferrin enter the cell?

In the classical transferrin pathway, the transferrin iron complex enters the cell within an endosome. Acidification of the endosome releases the iron from transferrin so that it can enter the cell. The apotransferrin is delivered by the endosome to the plasma for reutilization.

What does high transferrin and low ferritin mean?

This similar estimate is usually called the transferrin index.) Ferritinmeasures the level of ferritin, a protein made by almost all cells in response to increased iron. The ferritin level reflects the total body iron. It will be low when there is iron deficiency and high when there is an excess of iron in the body.

Why does transferrin increase in iron deficiency?

When your body’s stores of iron run low, your liver produces more transferrin to get more iron into your blood. Iron plays many important roles in your body, including helping your red blood cells carry oxygen to the cells in your body. Nearly all the iron in your body is normally attached to transferrin.