Lecture 12 ---IRON METABOLISM Flashcards
How is iron distributed throughout the body
(1) HAEMOGLOBIN +++++++++++++++++
(2) Myoglobin +++
(3) Iron enzymes ++
(4) Storage Iron ++++++
(5) Transport Iron +
What is the total amount of iron in the body?
?? (in 60kg woman)
?? (in 70g man)
2300mg (in 60kg woman)
3500mg (in 70g man)
What is the role of haemoglobin & myoglobin?
Oxygen transport
Why do muscles need their own iron-carrying compound (myoglobin)?
Because they are BIG, O2 HUNGRY cells
What are IRON ENZYMES
=CATALYSTS
Cofactors in enymatic reactions, esp in redox reactions
What is an example of an iron enzyme?
Enzyme: RIBONUCLEOTIDE REDUCTASE
Source: Cytoplasm, all cells
Reaction: Ribonucleotide–> deoxyribonucleotide
Form of iron: 2Fe
How is iron transported and stored?
transported/storaged BOUND TO PROTEINS to SEQUESTER its REACTIVITY
Why is iron transported/stored complexed to proteins?
To SEQUESTER its REACTIVITY
What are the two redox states of Iron?
Fe2+ –Ferrous iron
Fe3+ –Ferric iron
What’s the FENTON REACTION
Fe2+ + H2O2 (PEROXIDE) –> Fe3+ + OH- + HYDROXYL RADICAL (OH*)
Fe3+ + PEROXIDE –> Fe2+ + H+ + HYPEROXYL RADICAL (OOH*)
What is produced from Fe2+ in the Fenton reaction
HYDROXYL RADICAL (OH*)
What is produced from Fe3+ in the Fenton reaction?
HYPEROXYL RADICAL (OOH*)
PEROXIDE (from the fenton reaction) is released from….
Mitochondria/electron transport chain
Name the Iron binding proteins
(1) TRANSFERRIN
(2) MOBILFERRIN
(3) FERRITIN
TRANSFERRIN…
Location:
Function:
Iron binding protein
>Location: predominantly OUTSIDE CELLS
–Secreted into GIT & blood
>Function: used to absorb Fe and transport around the body
MOBILIFERRIN…
Location:
Function:
Iron binding protein
>Location: exclusively INSIDE CELLS
>Function: Stopping redox damage from iron inside cells
FERRETIN
Location:
Function:
Iron Binding protein…
>Location: Mostly INSIDE cells
>Function: STORAGE
How is iron stored?
Stored in the LIVER
in either
(1) the ACCESSIBLE POOL (Fe3+ complexed to ferritin)
or;
(2) the DEAD-END POOL (at high [ferritin] coagulates –> HAEMOSIDERIN precipitate, immobile form, cell dies)
What is HAEMOSIDERIN
At high concentrations of iron Ferritin coagulates and forms the HAEMOSIDERIN precipitate = Immobile form = cannot be drawn on = cell dies Is a way of getting rid of excess iron
How does iron recycling work?
Through the RETICULO-ENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM (RES)—RBC production= RBC destruction
(1) the MOBILE IRON POOL (in plasma) is drawn upon to SYNTHESISE ERYTHROCYTES (Red blood cells; RBC) in bone marrow. (-20mg/day)
(2) RBC lives ~120 days then broken down by MACROPHAGES IN THE SPLEEN (=+20mg/day)
How much iron is used per day (average male) to synthesise red blood cells?
20 mg/day (average male)
What is the life-span of a red blood cell?
120 days
How much Iron is re-claimed/recycled from erythrocytes every day (average male)?
20mg/day (average male)
How much Iron do we absorb from the diet every day?
1-2mg/day