What is the degradation product of ferritin?

Ferritin is a protein complex that serves as the primary form of iron storage in the body. When the body has excess iron or when there is a need to release stored iron, ferritin can undergo degradation. This degradation occurs primarily in situations where iron overload is present.

The breakdown of ferritin leads to the formation of hemosiderin, which is another storage form of iron. Hemosiderin is typically found in tissues as aggregates of insoluble hemosiderin granules, resulting from the aggregation of ferritin molecules when they become saturated with iron. This process allows the body to store excess iron safely, but excessive accumulation of hemosiderin can lead to tissue damage.

In contrast, hemoglobin and myoglobin are proteins involved in oxygen transport and do not derive from ferritin. Transferrin is a protein that binds to iron in the bloodstream and facilitates its transport rather than representing a degradation product of ferritin. Thus, hemosiderin is accurately identified as the degradation product of ferritin, as it is the result of iron release and aggregation when ferritin's iron stores are exceeded or excess iron is present.