What is the major iron storage compound in humans?

What is the major iron storage compound in humans?

• A. Ferritin
• B. Transferrin
• C. Hemosiderin
• D. Lactoferrin

Answer: (A)

Ferritin is the major iron storage protein in humans. It forms a hollow protein shell that can sequester thousands of iron ions in the ferric state, keeping iron in a soluble, non-toxic form inside cells and in circulating blood as ferritin. The two subunits, H and L, help with rapid iron uptake and stable mineral storage, respectively. When iron is needed, iron can be released via cellular pathways for use by enzymes and for transport in the blood bound to transferrin. Transferrin is the transport protein in plasma, not storage; hemosiderin is a partially degraded, less readily available storage form that appears with iron overload; lactoferrin binds iron in secretions and neutrophil granules and has antimicrobial roles. Thus ferritin is the main reservoir of iron.

Ferritin is the major iron storage protein in humans. It forms a hollow protein shell that can sequester thousands of iron ions in the ferric state, keeping iron in a soluble, non-toxic form inside cells and in circulating blood as ferritin. The two subunits, H and L, help with rapid iron uptake and stable mineral storage, respectively. When iron is needed, iron can be released via cellular pathways for use by enzymes and for transport in the blood bound to transferrin. Transferrin is the transport protein in plasma, not storage; hemosiderin is a partially degraded, less readily available storage form that appears with iron overload; lactoferrin binds iron in secretions and neutrophil granules and has antimicrobial roles. Thus ferritin is the main reservoir of iron.