Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P02794 (ferritin)
 17,525 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hepcidin is a small peptide that acts as a regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. To study some of its functional properties, a synthetic cDNA for the minimal, 20-amino-acid, form of human hepcidin was cloned into different constructs for expression in Escherichia coli. The fusion ferritin-hepcidin produced molecules retaining most of ferritin structural and functional properties, including ferroxidase and iron incorporation activities. However, it showed spectroscopic properties compatible with the presence of iron-sulfur complexes on the hepcidin moiety, which was buried into protein cavity. Similar complexes were reconstituted by in vitro incubation of the iron-free protein with iron and sulfide salts. Two other unrelated fusion products were constructed, which, when expressed in E. coli, formed insoluble aggregates retaining a large proportion of total bacterial iron. Analysis of the solubilized preparations showed them to contain iron-sulfur complexes. We concluded that the cysteine-rich hepcidin acts as an iron-sequestering molecule during expression in E. coli. This may have implications for the biological functions of this key protein of iron metabolism.
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PMID:Recombinant human hepcidin expressed in Escherichia coli isolates as an iron containing protein. 1600 82

A differentially expressed cDNA fragment (P311) from Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), was identified by restriction fragment differential display-polymerase chain reaction (RFDD-PCR) technique, and showed a strong similarity to ferritin heavy chain subunits of other organisms. Based on P311, we constructed specific primers and obtained a 840-bp cDNA fragment spanning the open reading frame of CPB ferritin subunit using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. The sequence encodes 213 amino acid residues, including a 19 amino acid signal peptide. The sequence has a conserved cysteine in the N-terminus and has the seven conserved residues that comprise the ferroxidase center, which is the feature of heavy chain ferritins of vertebrates. The CPB ferritin subunit has high amino acid sequence identity with the Apriona germari (69.3%), Galleria mellonela (54.5%), Manduca sexta (54.0%), Drosophila melanogaster (53.2%), Calpodes ethlius (51.4%), and Nilaparvata lugens (47.6%) but lower identity with the Anopheles gambiae (38.7%) and Aedes aegypti (37.8%). Using Northern blot analysis, the subunit mRNA was identified from fat body and midgut of 4th instars with much higher mRNA levels found in midgut than that in fat body (2.5-fold). Nevertheless, only the levels of mRNA in fat body was induced by dexamethasone (1.5-fold).
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PMID:Sequencing and characterization of a cDNA encoding a ferritin subunit of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. 1623 58

An effective utilization of intracellular iron is a prerequisite for erythroid differentiation and hemoglobinization. Ferritin, consisting of 24 subunits of H and L, plays a crucial role in iron homeostasis. Here, we have found that the H subunit of the ferritin gene is activated at the transcriptional level during hemin-induced differentiation of K562 human erythroleukemic cells. Transfection of various 5' regions of the human ferritin H gene fused to a luciferase reporter into K562 cells demonstrated that hemin activates ferritin H transcription through an antioxidant-responsive element (ARE) that is responsible for induction of a battery of phase II detoxification genes by oxidative stress. Gel retardation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that hemin induced binding of cJun, JunD, FosB, and Nrf2 b-zip transcription factors to AP1 motifs of the ferritin H ARE, despite no significant change in expression levels or nuclear localization of these transcription factors. A Gal4-luciferase reporter assay did not show activation of these b-zip transcription factors after hemin treatment; however, redox factor 1 (Ref-1), which increases DNA binding of Jun/Fos family members via reduction of a conserved cysteine in their DNA binding domains, showed induced nuclear translocation after hemin treatment in K562 cells. Consistently, Ref-1 enhanced Nrf2 binding to the ARE and ferritin H transcription. Hemin also activated ARE sequences of other phase II genes, such as GSTpi and NQO1. Collectively, these results suggest that hemin activates the transcription of the ferritin H gene during K562 erythroid differentiation by Ref-1-mediated activation of these b-zip transcription factors to the ARE.
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PMID:Hemin-mediated regulation of an antioxidant-responsive element of the human ferritin H gene and role of Ref-1 during erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. 1653 25

In prokaryotes and yeast, the general mechanism of biogenesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters involves activities of several proteins among which IscS and Nfs1p provide, through cysteine desulfuration, elemental sulfide for Fe-S core formation. Although these proteins have been well characterized, the role of their mammalian homolog in Fe-S cluster biogenesis has never been evaluated. We report here the first functional study that implicates the putative cysteine desulfurase m-Nfs1 in the biogenesis of both mitochondrial and cytosolic mammalian Fe-S proteins. Depletion of m-Nfs1 in cultured fibroblasts through small interfering RNA-based gene silencing significantly inhibited the activities of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) and succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex II) of the respiratory chain, as well as aconitase of the Krebs cycle, with no alteration in their protein levels. Activity of cytosolic xanthine oxidase, which holds a [2Fe-2S] cluster, was also specifically reduced, and iron-regulatory protein-1 was converted from its [4Fe-4S] aconitase form to its apo- or RNA-binding form. Reduction of Fe-S enzyme activities occurred earlier and more markedly in the cytosol than in mitochondria, suggesting that there is a mechanism that primarily dedicates m-Nfs1 to the biogenesis of mitochondrial Fe-S clusters in order to maintain cell survival. Finally, depletion of m-Nfs1, which conferred on apo-IRP-1 a high affinity for ferritin mRNA, was associated with the down-regulation of the iron storage protein ferritin.
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PMID:RNA silencing of mitochondrial m-Nfs1 reduces Fe-S enzyme activity both in mitochondria and cytosol of mammalian cells. 1678 28

The activation of cellular inflammatory response is tightly linked to induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), which in turn have been identified as important regulators of cellular iron metabolism. In the present study, we have used the microglia cell line BV-2 and the neuroblastoma cell line N2a to study the regulatory effects of the microbial agent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of the transferrin receptor (TfR) and ferritin in cell lines with different characteristics. The receptor mainly responsible for LPS recognition is the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) that triggers a variety of intracellular signalling cascades leading to the induction of transcription of target genes involved in the innate immune response. Among the pathways to be activated is the MAPK cascade leading to the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB that induces transcription of a variety of genes, e.g., inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The TLR4-mediated LPS response also induces the production of ROS through a mechanism(s) suggested to involve the activation of NADPH oxidase(s). This study shows that exposure of BV-2 and N2a cells to LPS results in decreased TfR protein levels and increased H-ferritin mRNA levels. The LPS down-regulatory effect on TfR protein expression is abolished by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyliodonium (DPI) but is not affected by the free radical scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or the iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG). The increased H-ferritin mRNA levels in response to LPS are not affected by DPI, NAC, or AG.
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PMID:NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyliodonium abolishes lipopolysaccharide-induced down-regulation of transferrin receptor expression in N2a and BV-2 cells. 1688 Oct 50

The superfamily of ferritin-like proteins has recently expanded to include a phylogenetically distinct class of proteins termed DPS-like (DPSL) proteins. Despite their distinct genetic signatures, members of this subclass share considerable similarity to previously recognized DPS proteins. Like DPS, these proteins are expressed in response to oxidative stress, form dodecameric cage-like particles, preferentially utilize H(2)O(2) in the controlled oxidation of Fe(2+), and possess a short N-terminal extension implicated in stabilizing cellular DNA. Given these extensive similarities, the functional properties responsible for the preservation of the DPSL signature in the genomes of diverse prokaryotes have been unclear. Here, we describe the crystal structure of a DPSL protein from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. Although the overall fold of the polypeptide chain and the oligomeric state of this protein are indistinguishable from those of authentic DPS proteins, several important differences are observed. First, rather than a ferroxidase site at the subunit interface, as is observed in all other DPS proteins, the ferroxidase site in SsDPSL is buried within the four-helix bundle, similar to bacterioferritin. Second, the structure reveals a channel leading from the exterior surface of SsDPSL to the bacterioferritin-like dimetal binding site, possibly allowing divalent cations and/or H(2)O(2) to access the active site. Third, a pair of cysteine residues unique to DPSL proteins is found adjacent to the dimetal binding site juxtaposed between the exterior surface of the protein and the active site channel. The cysteine residues in this thioferritin motif may play a redox active role, possibly serving to recycle iron at the ferroxidase center.
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PMID:Structure of the DPS-like protein from Sulfolobus solfataricus reveals a bacterioferritin-like dimetal binding site within a DPS-like dodecameric assembly. 1695 67

Local and systemic inflammatory conditions are characterized by the intracellular deposition of excess iron, which may promote tissue damage via Fenton chemistry. Because the Fenton reactant H(2)O(2) is continuously released by inflammatory cells, a tight regulation of iron homeostasis is required. Here, we show that exposure of cultured cells to sustained low levels of H(2)O(2) that mimic its release by inflammatory cells leads to up-regulation of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), the major iron uptake protein. The increase in TfR1 results in increased transferrin-mediated iron uptake and cellular accumulation of the metal. Although iron regulatory protein 1 is transiently activated by H(2)O(2), this response is not sufficient to stabilize TfR1 mRNA and to repress the synthesis of the iron storage protein ferritin. The induction of TfR1 is also independent of transcriptional activation via hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha or significant protein stabilization. In contrast, pulse experiments with (35)S-labeled methionine/cysteine revealed an increased rate of TfR1 synthesis in cells exposed to sustained low H(2)O(2) levels. Our results suggest a novel mechanism of iron accumulation by sustained H(2)O(2), based on the translational activation of TfR1, which could provide an important (patho) physiological link between iron metabolism and inflammation.
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PMID:Sustained hydrogen peroxide induces iron uptake by transferrin receptor-1 independent of the iron regulatory protein/iron-responsive element network. 1751 84

Urine and blood samples of cancer patients, treated with high doses of arsenic trioxide were analysed for arsenic species using HPLC-HGAFS and, in some cases, HPLC-ICPMS. Total arsenic was determined with either flow injection-HGAFS in urine or radiochemical neutron activation analysis in blood fractions (in serum/plasma, blood cells). The total arsenic concentrations (during prolonged, daily/weekly arsenic trioxide therapy) were in the microg mL(-1) range for urine and in the ng g(-1) range for blood fractions. The main arsenic species found in urine were As(III), MA and DMA and in blood As(V), MA and DMA. With proper sample preparation and storage of urine (no preservation agents/storage in liquid nitrogen) no analytical artefacts were observed and absence of significant amounts of alleged trivalent metabolites was proven. On the contrary, in blood samples a certain amount of arsenic can get lost in the speciation procedure what was especially noticeable for the blood cells although also plasma/serum gave rise to some disappearance of arsenic. The latter losses may be attributed to precipitation of As(III)-containing proteins/peptides during the methanol/water extraction procedure whereas the former losses were due to loss of specific As(III)-complexing proteins/peptides (e.g. cysteine, metallothionein, reduced GSH, ferritin) on the column (Hamilton PRP-X100) during the separation procedure. Contemporary analytical protocols are not able to completely avoid artefacts due to losses from the sampling to the detection stage so that it is recommended to be careful with the explanation of results, particularly regarding metabolic and pharmacokinetic interpretations, and always aim to compare the sum of species with the total arsenic concentration determined independently.
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PMID:Analytical artefacts in the speciation of arsenic in clinical samples. 1815 13

Due to its unique physicochemical and optical properties, C60 has raised interest in commercialization for a variety of products. While several reports have determined this nanomaterial to act as a powerful antioxidant, many other studies have demonstrated a strong oxidative potential through photoactivation. To directly address the oxidative potential of C60, the effects of light and chemical supplementation and depletion of glutathione (GSH) on C60-induced toxicity were evaluated. Embryonic zebrafish were used as a model organism to examine the potential of C60 to elicit oxidative stress responses. Reduced light during C60 exposure significantly decreased mortality and the incidence of fin malformations and pericardial edema at 200 and 300 ppb C60. Embryos co-exposed to the glutathione precursor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), also showed reduced mortality and pericardial edema; however, fin malformations were not reduced. Conversely, co-exposure to the GSH synthesis inhibitors, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and diethyl maleate (DEM), increased the sensitivity of zebrafish to C60 exposure. Co-exposure of C60 or its hydroxylated derivative, C60(OH)(24), with H2O2 resulted in increased mortality along the concentration gradient of H2O2 for both materials. Microarrays were used to examine the effects of C60 on the global gene expression at two time points, 36 and 48 h post fertilization (hpf). At both life stages there were alterations in the expression of several key stress response genes including glutathione-S-transferase, glutamate cysteine ligase, ferritin, alpha-tocopherol transport protein and heat shock protein 70. These results support the hypothesis that C60 induces oxidative stress in this model system.
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PMID:Fullerene C60 exposure elicits an oxidative stress response in embryonic zebrafish. 1829 40

Severe hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) is associated with atherosclerosis. In hemodialysis (HD) patients, one of the main causes of death is cardiovascular disease. In animals, trace elements such as cobalt, copper, iron, and nickel ameliorated vitamin B(12) deficiency-induced HHC. However, correlations between plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and trace elements in HD patients have not been investigated. Therefore, tHcy, folate, vitamin B(12), trace elements (cobalt, copper, iron, and nickel), and some laboratory parameters such as serum total protein, albumin, transferrin, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 concentrations were determined in 122 hemodialysis patients. When patients were divided into groups according to their tHcy, we found no significant differences in concentrations of cobalt, copper, and total protein, while nickel was higher, and folate, vitamin B(12), and iron were lower in patients with lower than higher tHcy. In univariate regression analysis, tHcy negatively correlated with concentrations of folate (r = -0.302, p < 0.006), vitamin B(12) (r = -0.347, p < 0.0001), nickel (r = -0.289, p < 0.006), and CRP (r = -0.230, p < 0.02) and positively with serum albumin (r = 0.316, p < 0.0004) and hemoglobin (r = 0.329, p < 0.0001) values. No relationship between tHcy and serum concentrations of cobalt, copper, iron, or other laboratory parameters was found in HD patients. The effect of cobalt and nickel on homocysteine production was assessed in human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Nickel but not cobalt at concentrations found in HD patients significantly inhibited homocysteine, cysteine, and S-adenosylhomocysteine production in human PBMCs. These results suggest that nickel might also be involved in the regulation of the methionine-folate cycle in humans, as was demonstrated in animal experiments.
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PMID:Relationship between serum nickel and homocysteine concentration in hemodialysis patients. 1846 90


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