Subject(s)
Hemochromatosis , Ferritins/history , Ferritins/metabolism , Hemochromatosis/genetics , Hemochromatosis/history , Hemochromatosis/physiopathology , Hemochromatosis/therapy , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Humans , Medical Illustration/history , Phlebotomy/history , Transferrin/history , Transferrin/metabolismABSTRACT
A brief memorial, from the ferrocentric view of science, about E.I. Stiefel's discovery of heme, maxi-ferritins in bacteria, recognition of the relationship to animal maxi-ferritins, and other reminiscences of ferritin defined as a storage battery.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , Chemistry, Inorganic/history , Cytochrome b Group/chemistry , Ferritins/chemistry , Bacterial Proteins/history , Cytochrome b Group/history , Ferritins/history , History, 20th Century , United StatesABSTRACT
Konrad Bloch developed an interest in insects because they are unable to make sterols, and in yeast because these cells need oxygen to make sterols and unsaturated fatty acids. Insects, like all other organisms, must deal with the toxic effects of oxygen in the presence of iron, which itself is a vital nutrient. They do so by making proteins with high affinity for ferric or ferrous ions. Two such proteins are transferrins and ferritins. Insects produce both of these proteins, but use them in different ways from most other organisms. Insect transferrins appear to be involved in innate immunity, perhaps by sequestering ferric ions to prevent pathogens and parasites from utilizing them. Insect ferritins, unlike those of any other group of organisms, are exported into the extracellular space (hemolymph). They may be involved in iron transport and/or protection against iron overload in the diet.
