Kamil Chwaliszewski, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher and David Aebisher
Medical College of The University of Rzeszów, Poland

Part of the book: The Biochemical Guide to Proteins

Abstract

Ferritin is a protein necessary for the proper functioning of the entire body with a molecular weight of 440kDa. The much attention is paid to the role of mitochondrial ferritin. Ferritin is also a clinically important protein: it is responsible for the pathological processes in the body that lead to the development of diseases. Research on ferritinophagy indicates the presence of other, more intrusive, previously unknown, apoptotic mechanisms that enable the regulation and maintenance of homeostasis. A more detailed understanding of such mechanisms may be a place of action for potential chemotherapeutic agents or other active substances. The described phenomena make it possible to understand a number of processes aimed at providing iron ions for the synthesis of certain substances in the body; especially in the course of hematopoiesis. The most surprising fact is that despite the long history of research on this protein, the mechanism of the relationship between its concentration and the above-mentioned factors is still not fully understood.

Keywords: ferritin, hematopoiesis, malignant diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease

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