Model system oxidations supporting the crystal growth model of ferritin iron uptake.

Fe2+ is oxidized and taken up by ferritin or ápoferritin in the presence of dioxygen. Iodate causes Fe2+ oxidation and uptake by ferritin, but not by apoferritin. Synthetic iron polymer facilitates Fe2+ oxidation by either dioxygen or iodate. Nitrilotriacetic acid or iminodiacetic acid facilitate oxidation of Fe2+ by oxygen but not by iodate. These results support the crystal growth model of ferritin iron uptake, with iron polymer serving as a model for the ferritin core and aminocarboxylic acids mimicking the metal-binding sites of apoferritin.