What is the primary storage form of iron?

What is the primary storage form of iron?

• A. Apotransferrin
• B. Myoglobin
• C. Ferritin
• D. Hemosiderin

Answer: (C)

Ferritin is the main iron storage protein in the body. It forms a hollow protein shell that safely sequesters thousands of iron atoms as ferric iron (Fe3+), keeping iron from catalyzing damaging free radicals and making it readily available when the body needs it. This storage form is found in liver, spleen, and bone marrow and its levels in tissues—and in serum—reflect overall iron stores. When iron is needed, iron is mobilized from ferritin and delivered to transferrin for transport to where it’s required. Hemosiderin is a secondary, more insoluble storage form that appears with overload or ferritin breakdown and is less readily mobilized. Apotransferrin is the iron-free form of transferrin used for transport rather than storage, and myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle rather than iron.

Ferritin is the main iron storage protein in the body. It forms a hollow protein shell that safely sequesters thousands of iron atoms as ferric iron (Fe3+), keeping iron from catalyzing damaging free radicals and making it readily available when the body needs it. This storage form is found in liver, spleen, and bone marrow and its levels in tissues—and in serum—reflect overall iron stores. When iron is needed, iron is mobilized from ferritin and delivered to transferrin for transport to where it’s required. Hemosiderin is a secondary, more insoluble storage form that appears with overload or ferritin breakdown and is less readily mobilized. Apotransferrin is the iron-free form of transferrin used for transport rather than storage, and myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle rather than iron.