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Concentration‐dependent sedimentation properties of ferritin: Implications for estimation of iron contents of serum ferritins
Author(s) -
Niitsu Yoshiro,
Adachi Chikara,
Takahashi Fumio,
Goto Yoshiro,
Kohgo Yutaka,
Urushizaki Ichiro,
Listowsky Irving
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.2830180405
Subject(s) - ferritin , sedimentation , centrifugation , chemistry , sucrose , dilution , biochemistry , sedimentation coefficient , density gradient , sucrose gradient , chromatography , biology , sediment , enzyme , paleontology , physics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
Serum ferritins from various sources sedimented at lower densities than tissue ferritins in sucrose gradient centrifugation systems. The sedimentation patterns of ferritins, however, were shown to be dependent on the concentration of the protein; as the concentration decreased the protein appeared to sediment at lower densities. Thus, at the low concentration levels usually used for analysis of serum ferritin, tissue ferritins also sedimented in the same lower density regions. Iron labeling experiments indicated that the sedimentation changes upon dilution were not due to release of iron or was there any indication that the protein dissociated into subunits. The anomalous sedimentation behavior of serum ferritin should therefore not be interpreted in terms of its iron content. The disclosure that serum ferritins may have full complements of iron is counter to the prevalent view that serum ferritins are low iron forms and has potential implications with regard to the sources and possible function of this protein in the circulation.