title: Two pathways of iron uptake in bovine spleen apoferritin dependent on iron concentration.
abstract: Iron incorporation by bovine spleen apoferritin either with ferrous ammonium sulfate in different buffers or with ferrous ammonium sulfate and phosphate was studied. Iron uptake and iron autoxidation were recorded spectrophotomerically. The buffers [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethanesulphonic acid (Hepes) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminoethane (Tris) exhibited pH-dependent iron autoxidation, with Tris showing less iron autoxidation than Hepes. An Eadie-Scatchard plot (v/[s] versus v) of the iron uptake rate in Hepes was a curved rather than a straight line, suggesting that there are two iron uptake pathways. On the other hand, the Eadie-Scatchard plots of Tris and of Hepes after the addition of phosphate showed a straight line. Phosphate accelerated the iron uptake rate. The iron loading kinetics of apoferritin in Hepes was dependent on apoferritin concentration. The Km value obtained from iron uptake kinetics was 4.5 microM, corresponding to the physiological iron concentration. These results demonstrate that iron loading of apoferritin was accomplished at physiological iron concentrations, which is essential for iron uptake, via two uptake pathways of dependent on iron concentration.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan. orino@vmas.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orino
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamura
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Natsuhori
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001052:Apoferritins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002021:Buffers; D002417:Cattle; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D006531:HEPES; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014325:Tromethamine
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D014325:Tromethamine; D005293:Ferritins; D001052:Apoferritins; D007501:Iron; D006531:HEPES