IRON Flashcards
What type of metal is Iron?
Transition metal
What defines a transition metal?
They can assume multiple oxidation states
What does the body use Iron for?
For oxidation-reduction reactions and electron transfer
What is the reduced form of iron?
Ferrous 2+
What is the oxidized form of iron?
Ferric 3+
At what pH will ferrous begin to precipitate out?
Around 6-6.5
At what pH will Ferric begin to ppt out?
Around 2.5-3
Why is Ferrous more bioavaible than ferric?
Because it is more soluble in lower pH levels (when it is absorbed in the small intestine, the pH levels are pretty low and and Ferric ppt out not Ferrous.)
Where is Iron located in the body?
2/3 in hemoglobin & Myoglobin Heme enzymes Non heme enzymes Intracellular labile iron transferrin ferritin/hemosiderin
What is the function of Iron in hemoglobin and myoglobin?
Binding and transport of Oxygen
What is the function of Heme enzymes?
Electron transport
What is the function of non heme enzymes?
Oxidative metabolism
What is the function of intracellular labile iron?
Gene expression
What is the function of transferrin?
Transport
What is the function of Ferritin/Hemosideerin?
Storage
How much Iron is found in women and males?
2.3 and 3.8
What is hemoglobin?
A tetrameric protein and in each of the subunits there is a heme group (heme = an iron locked into the center)
Briefly describe the process of Whole body Iron metabolism
Bone Marrow:
-Red blood cells are synthesized there and live for about 120 days in the circulation
Macrophages:
-Red blood cells are then eaten (phagocytosed) by marcrophages and recycle the iron back into the plasma.
Transferrin:
-Iron in the plasma will bind to its transport protein transferrin and most of it will travel back to the bone marrow or some will be stored in the liver.
What is the RDA for reproductive women and of that amount how much is absorbed?
18 mg and only 1-2 mg is absorbed in the small intestine.
How much iron is needed daily in the bone marrow?
24 mg
What is the only way to get rid of excess iron?
By blood loss
What are food sources of iron?
Heme iron:
-meat
Non heme:
-plant products
What is heme iron?
Fe is contained in a protoporphyrin ring
Found in meat in hemoglobin, myoglobin, and cytochromes
Highly bioavailable
What is non heme iron?
Can be organic chelates (e.g. ferric citrate, ferrous fumarate)
Can be constituents of biological molecules (e.g. iron-sulfur enzymes, ferritin)
Found in plants and meat
Relatively poorly bio available
What are nutrients that enhance Iron uptake?
Ascorbic acid (Vit. C) because it is a reducing agent (keeps it in the Ferrous form) Dietary Protein (Cys, His) Iron Chelation (e.g. heme) "Meat factor"
What are Endogenous factors that enhance Iron Uptake?
Enhanced erythropoiesis
Low iron stores
Hemochromatosis
HCl (stomach acid) because it keeps Ferrous soluble
What factors inhibit Iron uptake?
Phytic acid Oxalic acid Polyphenols (cofee and tea) high iron stores infection/inflammation lack of stomach acid
What does DMT1 stand for?
Divalent Metal Transporter 1
What is the main function of DMT1?
Transport Iron into the intestinal cell (enterocyte)
What is the tissue distribution of DMT1?
ubiquotous; abundant in duodenum
Where is DMT1 located?
Apical surface of enterocyte
What is the structure of DMT1?
Transmembrane protein
How is DMT1 regulated?
induced by iron deficiency
What are interesting facts of DMT1?
Mutations in DMT1 lead cause anemia
DMT1 first discovered in rodents and with anemia
What is the official gene name for DMT1?
Slc11a2
What is Dcytb and does it stand for?
A ferrireductase; Duodenal cytochrome B
What is the main function of Dcytb?
Reduces Ferric to Ferrous so it can be transported by DMT1
In what tissue is Dcytb distributed in?
duodenum, spleen, liver, brain
How is Dcytb regulated?
Induced by Iron deficiency
Interesting fact of Dcytb?
It uses ascorbate to provide reducing equivalents
What is ferroportin?
An iron-export protein