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Characterization of dugong liver ferritin
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Characterization of dugong liver ferritin

I.H.A. Rahman, W. Chua‐anusorn, J. Webb, D.J. Macey and T.G. St Pierre
Analytica Chimica Acta, Vol.393(1-3), pp.235-243
1999
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Abstract

Dugong liver contains very high levels of iron (up to 71 000μgg-1 dry wt). Generally, iron is stored in the protein ferritin and the insoluble material hemosiderin. Histological studies indicated dense deposit of iron in the tissue, without evidence of the tissue damage normally associated with very high iron levels. The speciation studies on iron were carried out by Mossbauer spectroscopy. The size distribution and iron core crystallinity of the ferritin were also determined using a transmission electron microscope. Mossbauer spectra of purified ferritin at 78K indicated the presence of ferrihydrite (5Fe2O3.9H2O) rather than geothite-like (α-FeOOH) iron oxide. The Mossbauer spectra of a sample of dugong liver tissue indicated the presence of a goethite-like iron phase related to that found in transfused human thalassemic patients. The iron core study indicated that purified dugong ferritin had a limited crystallinity. The characteristics of purified dugong ferritin are similar to other mammalian ferritins, based on amino acids determination of the ferritin protein cage. The naturally high level of iron in its food is reflected in the high liver iron values. The ability of the liver tissue to withstand the high concentration of iron in the tissue without apparently damaging the tissue deserves further study.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.184 Physiology & Metals
1.184.573 Iron Metabolism
Web Of Science research areas
Chemistry, Analytical
ESI research areas
Chemistry
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