Scientists discover protein that allows safe recycling of iron from old red blood cells

  • Scientists discover protein that allows safe recycling of iron from old red blood cells - Scientists have long hypothesized that our bodies must have a special protein 'container' for transporting heme -- the form of iron found in living things -- during the breakdown and recycling of old red cells and other types of heme metabolism. Now a research team led by scientists from the University of Maryland have identified this long-sought heme-iron transporter and shown that it is the same HRG1 protein found in a common microscopic worm. "HRG1 Is Essential for Heme Transport from the Phagolysosome of Macrophages during Erythrophagocytosis," Cell Metabolism, Feb. 5
    • Posted on February 5, 2013 by . This entry was posted in Slinn Pickings and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

    Comments are closed.