ferritin

American  

[fer-i-tn] / ˈfɛr ɪ tn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an amber-colored, crystalline protein, found in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, that consists of apoferritin combined with a ferric hydroxide-ferric phosphate complex and that stores iron for use in metabolism.

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ferritin British  

/ ˈfɛrɪtɪn /

noun

1. biochem a protein that contains iron and plays a part in the storage of iron in the body. It occurs in the liver and spleen

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Etymology

Origin of ferritin

First recorded in 1935–40; ferrite + -in ²

Example Sentences

While monitoring ferritin is a good way to measure iron, it would be more accurate to measure the actual iron levels inside the protein.

From BBC • May 6, 2024

In contrast, a vaccine based on a scaffold protein called ferritin, coated with SARS-CoV-2 antigens, generated many antibodies against ferritin as well as SARS-CoV-2.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2024

And unlike iron, which is easily assessed by measuring levels of iron-containing blood proteins like hemoglobin and ferritin, there is no biomarker that can be used as an indicator of zinc levels.

From Washington Post • Jan. 14, 2022

A serum ferritin is normally below 400 in our lab, mine was 18,000!

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2020

Once inside mucosal cells, ionic iron binds to the protein ferritin, creating iron-ferritin complexes that store iron until needed.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013