Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
Board

Cell membranes are relatively impermeable to iron and carriers are needed to transport it across these structures. Little is known about the nature of these carriers. However, recently a gene has been cloned from rat duodenum that encodes a protein that transports metal-ions, information about the function of Nramp2 in iron metabolism we have produced a specific antibody to rat Nramp2 to determine its tissue and cellular distribution using immunohistochemistry. Nramp2 protein was expressed in many tissues. In the duodenum, the protein was highly expressed on the apical cell membrane and throughout the cytoplasm of the villus enterocytes but not in the crypts. A similar distribution was observed in the colon. Haemopoietic cells from bone marrow expressed Nramp2 while only the hepatocytes adjacent to the sinusoids in the liver expressed Nramp2. The lumenal membrane of the proximal, distal and collecting tubules of the kidney and the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas also expressed Nramp2. Protein distribution in these tissues is consistent with a role for Nramp2 in iron absorption by the duodenum, transmembrane transport of iron by liver and bone marrow cells and reabsorption in the kidney.

Back to the top.
Presentation Number SAtrinder0240
Keywords: Nramp2, iron carriers, iron metabolism, absorption, cell transport