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Journal of the American Chemical Society2008; 130(25); 8062-8068; doi: 10.1021/ja800492z

Comparative structural and chemical studies of ferritin cores with gradual removal of their iron contents.

Abstract: Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES), Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and SQUID magnetic studies were performed in a batch of horse spleen ferritins from which iron had been gradually removed, yielding samples containing 2200, 1200, 500, and 200 iron atoms. Taken together, findings obtained demonstrate that the ferritin iron core consists of a polyphasic structure (ferrihydrite, magnetite, hematite) and that the proportion of phases is modified by iron removal. Thus, the relative amount of magnetite in ferritin containing 2200 to 200 iron atoms rose steadily from approximately 20% to approximately 70% whereas the percentage of ferrihydrite fell from approximately 60% to approximately 20%. These results indicate a ferrihydrite-magnetite core-shell structure. It was also found that the magnetite in the ferritin iron core is not a source of free toxic ferrous iron, as previously believed. Therefore, the presence of magnetite in the ferritin cores of patients with Alzheimer's disease is not a cause of their increased brain iron(II) concentration.
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Publication Date: 2008-05-29 PubMed ID: 18507465DOI: 10.1021/ja800492zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study reveals that ferritin iron cores are made up of multiple structures, whose proportions change when iron is removed. Also, contrary to past beliefs, magnetite in the ferritin core doesn’t contribute to toxic iron levels, thus not playing a role in increased brain iron levels in Alzheimer’s disease patients.

Methods Used in the Study

  • The researchers carried out various scientific techniques like Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES), Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and SQUID magnetic studies to carefully analyze samples of horse spleen ferritins.
  • They methodically removed iron from the ferritin to create samples with varying iron atom counts: 2200, 1200, 500, and 200.

Findings of the Study

  • They discovered that the iron core inside ferritin exists as a multi-phase structure, composed of ferrihydrite, magnetite, and hematite.
  • Found substantial changes in phase proportions when iron was removed. Magnetite levels steadily rose from around 20% to around 70% as the iron count lowered from 2200 to 200. Meanwhile, ferrihydrite levels saw a decline from around 60% to around 20%.
  • This change in proportions demonstrated a ferrihydrite-magnetite core-shell structure.

Implications of the Study

  • Contradicting earlier accepted views, the researchers found that magnetite in the ferritin iron core does not produce toxic ferrous iron. Thus it is not a contributing factor to iron toxicity.
  • This means that magnetite’s presence in the ferritin cores of Alzheimer’s patients isn’t causing their increased brain iron(II) concentration. This finding is significant because it helps enhance our understanding of not only ferritin structure but also its role in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Gálvez N, Fernández B, Sánchez P, Cuesta R, Ceolín M, Clemente-León M, Trasobares S, López-Haro M, Calvino JJ, Stéphan O, Domínguez-Vera JM. (2008). Comparative structural and chemical studies of ferritin cores with gradual removal of their iron contents. J Am Chem Soc, 130(25), 8062-8068. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja800492z

Publication

Journal of the American Chemical Society
ISSN: 1520-5126
NlmUniqueID: 7503056
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 130
Issue: 25
Pages: 8062-8068

Researcher Affiliations

Gálvez, Natividad
  • Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Fernández, Belén
    Sánchez, Purificación
      Cuesta, Rafael
        Ceolín, Marcelo
          Clemente-León, Miguel
            Trasobares, Susana
              López-Haro, Miguel
                Calvino, Jose J
                  Stéphan, Odile
                    Domínguez-Vera, José M

                      MeSH Terms

                      • Animals
                      • Ferritins / analysis
                      • Ferritins / chemistry
                      • Ferrosoferric Oxide / chemistry
                      • Horses
                      • Iron / analysis
                      • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
                      • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
                      • Models, Chemical
                      • Spleen / chemistry

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