Definition
Is a crystalline lattice protein, 450 kDa, that can sequester up to 450 atoms of iron. As the metal accumulates within macrophages, increasing amounts of ferritin are synthesized to safely contain the toxic metal. Ferritin is a main intracellular iron storage protein and consists of 24 light and heavy subunits. Each ferritin complex can store about 4,500 iron (Fe3+) ions.
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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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(2011). Ferritin. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_2148
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_2148
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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