Heterogeneity in tissue ferritins displayed by gel electrofocusing

Abstract

1. Horse spleen ferritin and human liver ferritin were examined by gel electrofocusing under conditions that demonstrated equilibrium focusing. Both ferritins were resolved into multiple isoferritins. Both families of isoferritins were separable from one another. 2. Horse spleen ferritin was also resolved into five components by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. Each of the major chromatographic fractions contained only a few of the isoferritins seen on gel electrofocusing. Each chromatographic fraction corresponded to different portions of the isoferritin profile. 3. These results indicate that the heterogeneity seen in many ferritins by gel electrofocusing represents structural heterogeneity in the ferritin population as isolated from the tissues.

Human Isoferritins

“…W e have shown that thc isoferritin profiles obtained in our system do, in fact, represent equilibrium banding patterns (Drysdale, 1974). Furthermore, similar patterns are also obtained by isoelectric focusing in sucrosc density gradients or in Scphadex bcds (Alpert et al, 1973 ;Righetti 8~ Drysdale, 1974;.…”

“…All of Dr Richter's arguments suggesting that the multiple forms arc coiitamiiiaiits or artifacts resulting froin aggregates or ampholytc binding have already been fully answered in the past few years (Drysdale, 1970(Drysdale, , 1974Urushizaki et al, 1971Urushizaki et al, , 1973.…”

Localization and Characteristics of Ferritin in Human Bone Marrow

“…Ferritin is separated in isoferritins by iso electric focusing [10]. In different organs different isoferritins were found [18,22,28], These results were confirmed by ani on-exchange chromatography [10,29,31].…”

Serum ferritin concentration in early breast cancer

“…Elevated levels have been reported in leukaemia and Hodgkin's disease (Jones et al, 1973) and, in the case of acute leukaemia, this is associated with increased synthesis and high concentrations in the malignant cells White et al, 1974). The analysis of normal tissue ferritin by isoelectric focusing has revealed considerable heterogeneity (Drysdale, 1974;Powell et al, 1975). Alpert, Coston and Drysdale (1973) found human hepatoma tissue to contain an acidic ferritin also present in early foetal liver but not in mature liver.…”