Characterization and subunit analysis of ferritin isolated from normal and malignant human liver. 1975

E Alpert

Ferritin was purified from normal, fetal, and malignant liver tissue. Ferritin purified from hepatoma tissue migrated slightly faster than normal human liver ferritin in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Hepatoma and fetal liver ferritin contained an acidic components in gel and liquid isoelectric focusing not found in normal liver ferritin. We have called it a carcinofetal isoferritin. The subunit compositions of ferritins purified from human liver cell carcinoma and normal liver were then compared. Both ferritin consisted of a subunit species with an identical molecular weight of approximately 18,500. A single subunit of similar molecular weight was also demonstrable after dissociation of 8 M urea and by gel filtration in urea. Two subunits were demonstrable in normal liver ferritin by means of acrylamide electrophoresis in 8 M urea in acid pH. The same two subunits were also demonstrable in ferritin isolated from human liver cell carcinoma. However, a third subunit, intermediate in charge between the two normal liver subunits, was demonstrable in different amounts in ferritins from two hepatomas. Ferritins from normal and malignant livers were immunologically indistinguishable. The tumor-specific acidic isoferritin was isolated and antisera were prepared. The isolated acidic isoferritin was found to be immunologically identical to normal liver isoferritins. It is concluded that the multiple isoferritins of the human liver ferritin consist of two subunits, which are identical in molecular weight but which differ in net charge. Ferritin, isolated from two human liver carcinoma tissues, was composed of the same two subunits and a third unique subunit. Different amounts of these subunits may account for the several normal isoferritins and a unique tumor-specific acid isoferritin found in hepatoma.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007525 Isoelectric Focusing Electrophoresis in which a pH gradient is established in a gel medium and proteins migrate until they reach the site (or focus) at which the pH is equal to their isoelectric point. Electrofocusing,Focusing, Isoelectric
D008099 Liver A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances. Livers
D008113 Liver Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LIVER. Cancer of Liver,Hepatic Cancer,Liver Cancer,Cancer of the Liver,Cancer, Hepatocellular,Hepatic Neoplasms,Hepatocellular Cancer,Neoplasms, Hepatic,Neoplasms, Liver,Cancer, Hepatic,Cancer, Liver,Cancers, Hepatic,Cancers, Hepatocellular,Cancers, Liver,Hepatic Cancers,Hepatic Neoplasm,Hepatocellular Cancers,Liver Cancers,Liver Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Hepatic,Neoplasm, Liver
D008970 Molecular Weight The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule. Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D002621 Chemistry A basic science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter; and the reactions that occur between substances and the associated energy exchange.
D002850 Chromatography, Gel Chromatography on non-ionic gels without regard to the mechanism of solute discrimination. Chromatography, Exclusion,Chromatography, Gel Permeation,Chromatography, Molecular Sieve,Gel Filtration,Gel Filtration Chromatography,Chromatography, Size Exclusion,Exclusion Chromatography,Gel Chromatography,Gel Permeation Chromatography,Molecular Sieve Chromatography,Chromatography, Gel Filtration,Exclusion Chromatography, Size,Filtration Chromatography, Gel,Filtration, Gel,Sieve Chromatography, Molecular,Size Exclusion Chromatography
D004591 Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis in which a polyacrylamide gel is used as the diffusion medium. Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGE,Gel Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide,SDS PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGEs
D005293 Ferritins Iron-containing proteins that are widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Their major function is to store IRON in a nontoxic bioavailable form. Each ferritin molecule consists of ferric iron in a hollow protein shell (APOFERRITINS) made of 24 subunits of various sequences depending on the species and tissue types. Basic Isoferritin,Ferritin,Isoferritin,Isoferritin, Basic
D006528 Carcinoma, Hepatocellular A primary malignant neoplasm of epithelial liver cells. It ranges from a well-differentiated tumor with EPITHELIAL CELLS indistinguishable from normal HEPATOCYTES to a poorly differentiated neoplasm. The cells may be uniform or markedly pleomorphic, or form GIANT CELLS. Several classification schemes have been suggested. Hepatocellular Carcinoma,Hepatoma,Liver Cancer, Adult,Liver Cell Carcinoma,Liver Cell Carcinoma, Adult,Adult Liver Cancer,Adult Liver Cancers,Cancer, Adult Liver,Cancers, Adult Liver,Carcinoma, Liver Cell,Carcinomas, Hepatocellular,Carcinomas, Liver Cell,Cell Carcinoma, Liver,Cell Carcinomas, Liver,Hepatocellular Carcinomas,Hepatomas,Liver Cancers, Adult,Liver Cell Carcinomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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