Proteins used to transport or store iron in the body include hemoglobin, ferritin, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin. These proteins are responsible for transporting iron from one area of the body to another. They help deliver oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body, allow for the storage of iron within tissues and organs, and remove excess iron from the blood.
Hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a tetrameric protein that contains four heme groups, as well as four globin subunits. It is made up of two alpha and two beta subunits, with each subunit containing a heme group. Iron is found in the center of the porphyrin ring of the heme group, which can bind to oxygen.
Hemoglobin functions to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body in the blood. It is responsible for carrying approximately 97% of oxygen in red blood cells. Myoglobin, on the other hand, functions to store oxygen in muscle tissues until it is needed by myocytes (muscle cells).
Hemoglobin, the protein that gives red blood cells their color, is responsible for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the body’s organs. It stores iron, which it needs in order to bind oxygen.
Hemoglobin is made of four polypeptide chains known as alpha globin and beta globin. Each chain contains a heme group, which consists of an iron atom surrounded by four nitrogen atoms from a porphyrin ring. This makes hemoglobin soluble in both water-based and fat-based substances, and therefore suitable for transport through both blood plasma and red blood cells.
Ferritin.
Ferritin is a type of protein that stores iron so that the body can use it when needed. Iron is an essential mineral required for the function of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs throughout the body.
The body cannot make iron, so it must be acquired through foods. The iron in food is bound to other molecules and must be converted to an ionic form before the body can use it.
People are able to absorb only about 10% of iron in most foods; however, iron absorption can be increased by consuming foods rich in vitamin C along with iron-rich foods. Iron absorption also increases as people’s bodies require more iron, such as during pregnancy or menstruation. Once absorbed, iron is stored in proteins called ferritin and hemosiderin in the bone marrow, liver, spleen and muscle tissue for future use.
Ferritin is a spherical protein composed of 24 subunits with a hollow center where it stores up to 4500 iron atoms. It plays a critical role in regulating the bioavailability of iron within cells and tissues. Cells can easily access stored ferritin when they need more iron; however, if there are few ferritin stores, cells will have to acquire more from outside sources.
Ceruloplasmin.
This protein found in the blood functions to store and transport iron in the body, converting it between ferrous and ferric states.
The amount of ceruloplasmin in a person’s blood can be measured to diagnose certain diseases, such as Wilson’s disease, which is a genetic disorder that causes copper to build up in the body. In people with this disorder, the level of ceruloplasmin is usually lower than normal.
Transferrin.
Transferrin is a protein that functions to store and transport iron throughout the body.
Transferrins are proteins that can either be found in the blood plasma or stored in the liver. They are responsible for transporting iron within the body.
There are different types of transferrins that can be found in the blood plasma and each has a unique function or purpose. The most common type of transferrin is the human serum transferrin, which carries iron from the intestines, liver, and spleen to different tissues in the body.
Hemoglobin on the other hand is a protein compound that transports oxygen from the respiratory organs to other parts of the body. It is also responsible for transporting carbon dioxide back to the lungs where it will be exhaled out of the body.
The best way to answer these types of questions is to review the three categories of protein functions in humans. These include support, movement and regulation.
Support proteins provide structure (collagen) and protection (keratin). They are not involved with iron.
Movement proteins are associated with muscles (actin and myosin), cell movement across surfaces (fibronectin) and intracellular movement within the cell (tubulin). They are not involved with iron.
Regulation proteins are associated with chemical reactions within the body and the transfer of substances across membranes (hemoglobin, cytochrome c, transportrin). Of these, only transferrin is associated with iron.
In summary, the best answer is Transferrin
Conclusion
Iron is a mineral we need to survive. Blood contains iron that carries oxygen to cells, muscle tissue requires iron to function, and organs such as the heart contain iron to maintain healthy red blood cells. So it is important that we know how proteins aid in the process of transporting or storing iron.