Ferritin

Elemental iron is required for a variety of normal cellular functions and vital for proper growth and development. Natural iron is quite insoluble. Excess iron is harmful. It can catalyze the formation of potentially damaging reactive oxygen species. Cells have developed mechanisms to improve solubility of iron and to control intracellular iron levels. The major pool of body iron (~85%; 40-50mg/kg) is found in circulating hemoglobin and muscle myoglobin. Iron absorption occurs primarily in the intestine (duodenum) and inversely related to body iron reserve. Several proteins including Ferritin, transferrin (Tf), transferrin receptors (TfRs), iron regulatory proteins (IRPs), etc. play a key role in iron metabolism. Ferritin is the major protein involved in iron sequestration and detoxification. Ferritin is found in all living species. Its three dimensional structure is conserved in all species despite very low sequence identity from bacteria to human. Mammalian liver and spleen ferritin (~450kD) consists of 24 subunits of 2 species, the heavy subunit (~21kD; FTH) and the light subunit (~ 19kD; FTL). The 2 types of apoferritin subunits were designated H and L for heart and liver, respectively. Ferritin is capable of storing up to 4500 atoms of ferric iron. The H:L ratio within ferritin varies in a tissue-specific manner. This ratio is also influenced by pathophysiological conditions, including inflammation and malignancy. Applications: Suitable for use in ELISA and Western Blot. Other applications not tested. Recommended Dilution: ELISA: 1:100-1:500 Western Blot: 1:1000-1:20,000 Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher. Storage and Stability: May be stored at 4 degrees C for short-term only. For long-term storage and to avoid repeated freezing and thawing, aliquot and store at -20 degrees C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months at -20 degrees C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.