Ferritin Assay Service
The protein that stores iron in the cells is ferritin. Ferritin in tissues is balanced with ferritin in serum, so serum ferritin is an indicator of the amount of iron stored in the body. Protheragen offers ferritin assays to help our clients with pathology studies related to iron stores.
Ferritin
Ferritin is a highly symmetric and stable iron-containing protein. One of the main properties of ferritin is its ability to attract iron ions and induce their mineralization by using its iron oxidase activity and the chemical properties specific to the cavity environment. Ferritin is almost ubiquitous, located mainly in the cytoplasm, but is also found in the nucleus, animal mitochondria, plant plastids, insect endoplasmic reticulum, and is also secreted into circulating plasma.
Three-dimensional structure of ferritin [1].
Ferritin's Iron Storage Function
Ferritin is an iron storage protein and is one of the most important proteins involved in iron metabolism. Cytoplasmic ferritin is present in essentially all tissue cells. Ferritin acts as an antioxidant and controls the availability of intracellular ferrous ions, all organized into a hollow, spherical structure in which redox reactions occur. The ability to form a dense iron nucleus separate from the cytoplasm, which keeps it soluble and makes it bioavailable when needed, is typical of all ferritins.
- Homopolymer Molecule (FtMt)
FtMt has functional and structural properties similar to cytosolic ferritin, such as cellular iron storage and detoxification. Unlike cytosolic ferritin, which is commonly expressed in mammalian tissues, the expression of mitochondrial ferritin is restricted to specific cell types. In vitro and in vivo model analyses suggest that mitochondrial ferritin plays a role in protecting mitochondria from iron overload-induced damage.
Scheme of the mitochondrial ferritin structure [2].
In summary, under physiological conditions, iron is normally bound to proteins such as ferritin and transferrin. In fact, the presence of excess free iron is a hallmark of aging diseases because it is not properly stored in the ferritin core. Although excess iron is mainly stored in the cytoplasm, most of the metabolically active iron in the cell is processed in the mitochondria.
Our Services
A ferritin assay is a measure of an organism's iron reserve capacity. Protheragen performs ferritin assays by chemiluminescent immunoassay on a wide range of cells and cellular disease models provided by our customers to assess their iron storage capacity. We offer ferritin assays for various model organisms as well as model microorganisms to help our clients assess the iron storage capacity of different model organisms.
Workflow
Encapsulated Antibody
Adding Sample and Positive Standards
Adding Enzyme-Labeled Antibodies
Chemiluminescence Assay
Washing
Washing
Washing
Mitochondrial Ferritin Assay
Mitochondrial ferritin is a protein that also can store iron. We quantify mitochondrial ferritin by ELISA for samples provided by our customers to assess the iron storage capacity of mitochondria.
Our Advantages
Advanced Technology
Experienced Team
High Quality
Best Service
Protheragen has a professional team and advanced equipment, and the whole process is operated by experienced technicians to provide our customers with iron metabolism related cellular assay services. If you have any needs, please contact us.
References
- Conlon M, et al. Ferroptosis-like death in plant cells[J]. Molecular & Cellular Oncology, 2017, 4(3): e1302906.
- Dangol S, et al. Iron-and reactive oxygen species-dependent ferroptotic cell death in rice-Magnaporthe oryzae interactions[J]. The Plant Cell, 2019, 31(1): 189-209.