Ferritin light chain

Ferritin light chain is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the FTL is_associated_with::gene.

It is abnormally expressed in fetuses of both IVF and ICSI, which may contribute to the increase risk of birth defects in these ART.

Function
This gene encodes the light subunit of the is_associated_with::ferritin is_associated_with::protein. Ferritin is the major intracellular iron storage protein in is_associated_with::prokaryotes and is_associated_with::eukaryotes. It is composed of 24 subunits of the heavy and light ferritin chains. Variation in ferritin subunit composition may affect the rates of iron uptake and release in different tissues. A major function of ferritin is the storage of iron in a soluble and nontoxic state. This gene has multiple is_associated_with::pseudogenes.

Although ferritin light chain has no ferroxidase activity, the light chain may be responsible for the electron transfer across the ferritin protein cage.

Clinical significance
Defects in this light chain ferritin gene are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases and is_associated_with::hyperferritinemia-cataract syndrome.

Mutations of the FTL gene cause the rare adult-onset is_associated_with::basal ganglia disease also known as is_associated_with::neuroferritinopathy).

Interactions
Ferritin light chain has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::FTH1.