Effects of non-ionic and anionic detergents on lipid-associated tissue ferritin.

Lipid-associated ferritin from homogenates of guinea pig liver is released from its conjugate(s) by incubation with the non-ionic detergents Triton X-100 and Nonidet P-40 but not by incubation with the anionic detergent deoxycholate. The amount of lipid-associated ferritin released from its conjugate(s) depends on the concentration of the non-ionic detergents. At a final non-ionic detergent concentration of about 20 g/L, all lipid-associated ferritin is released from its conjugate(s) in a liver homogenate. The amount released is identical with the amount of the lipid-associated ferritin obtained by extraction of the same liver homogenate with a mixture of butanol and diisopropyl ether.