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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Semin Nephrol. 2020 Mar;40(2):160–172. doi: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2020.01.007

Table 1.

Characteristics of ferritin subunits

Properties FtH FtL FtMt
Cellular Localization Nucleus and cytoplasm Cytoplasm Mitochondria
Chromosomal Localization 11q12.3 19q13.1 5q23.1
Molecular Weight 21 kDa 19 kDa 22 kDa
Ferroxidase Activity Yes No Yes
Tissue Distribution Higher in the heart, brain and kidneys Higher in the liver and spleen Higher in the testis, spermatocytes, neurons and cardiomyocytes
Regulation Cytosolic iron levels, oxidative stress, inflammation and others Cytosolic iron levels, oxidative stress, inflammation and others Mitochondrial iron levels
Signaling Mechanisms JNK, ERK and others JNK, ERK, NFkB, γ-secretase activity and others Not known
Global Genetic Deletion in Mice Embryonic lethal No effect No effect

Abbreviations: ERK, Extracellular signal-regulated kinases; FtH, ferritin heavy chain; FtL, ferritin light chain; FtMt, mitochondrial ferritin; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinases; NFkB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells.