The Transferrin Bioinorganic System Using Concepts Such As Chelation

The goal of this experiment is to prepare a photosensitive solution and explore its properties. While analyzing the solution, one will learn how to successfully handle these sensitive chemicals and then establish its properties via spectrophotometry.

Iron is one of the important minerals that is required for our bodies to function properly. Most of the iron in our body is found in the blood such as haemoglobin, approximately 60 -70% of the human body’s iron is found in the haemoglobin, a protein in the blood that transports oxygen. Iron is also present in muscle tissue and some enzymes. There are two types of iron in the body which are “Heme Iron” from animal products and “Non-Heme Iron” vegetables and

For this experiment we are looking to determine the equilibrium constant KC for this reaction, KC = [FeSCN2+]/([Fe3+]•[SCN-]. Using a spectrophotometer, we are going to determine the absorbance of FeSCN2+ with different concentration measurements.

In this experiment, two reactions were run to determine the molar absorptivity and the equilibrium constant of FeSCN2+. The main principles used in this lab are equilibrium, LeChatlier’s Principle, Beer’s Law and Spectrocopy. The first reaction was run to completion using LeChatier’s Principle and the second reaction was run to equilibrium. A spectrophotometer was used to measure absorbances. Using a graph of absorbance versus concentration of FeSCN2+ was used to determine that the molar absorptivity constant was 3670. Beer’s Law was used to determine that the average equilibrium constant was 33.1793.

In the beginning of every cross country season, my coach stressed the importance that all the female runners must take one iron pill a day. I never gave in to this because he never gave us an explanation, so I saw this as merely a mental booster rather than actual improvement present in my body. After doing some research, I found out that iron is an essential nutrient used by the human body for to transport oxygen and produce energy. Iron is present in every single cell of the body and carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissue in the form of hemoglobin, which is the oxygen-transport protein in red blood cells. Lack of iron results in both fatigue and weakness, which is definitely harmful to a cross country runner. Iron deficiency affects women about 8-10 times more than men, which is why it is crucial for women runners to watch their iron levels (Sinclair, Hinton). If iron deficiency worsens, it can lead to anemia. Anemia is when you do not have enough red blood cells, and as a result, less hemoglobin. If a cross country runner has anemia, it can affect their whole season because they are exerting energy without the sufficient amount of oxygen needed to complete each run or workout.

Although these species consume large amounts of tannin rich foods in the wild, captive diets can have a lack of them, leading to the tannin theory in relation to iron storage disease in captive animals. (Clauss, Lechner-Doll, Hanichen, & Hatt, 2002) However, the implementation

Iron is basic to survive and have a healthy life as is the component that transport oxygen to

Complexation of porphyrin with the metal will cause the shifts of Q bands in the UV-Vis spectra in the range of 500-700 nm as shown in Figure 2.7. This can be observed by the disappearance of two Q bands out of four as the porphyrin undergoes the change from D4h symmetry to D2h symmetry (Rita Giovannetti, 2012). The Q-bands were denoted as α and β. The coordination of porphyrin to Ni(II), Sn(IV) or Pd(II) which can form stable square planar complexes generally consists of a higher α peak (Figure 2.7 (A)), while the coordination of porphyrin to Cd(II) which forms a complex that can easily be displaced by protons will show a higher β peak (Figure 2.7(B)).

Iron is complex. There are two major forms of iron that an individual can ingest: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is in the most easily absorbed form. It can be found in meat, fish, and poultry.

Iron Storage Disease (ISD) is a serious condition that affects many animals, including rhinoceroses. ISD is only found in browser rhinoceroses (African black, Diceros biacornis, and Sumatran, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and not in grazers (African white, Ceratotherium simum, and Indian, Rhinoceros unicornis). This disease is also only found in captive animals and is not found in animals in the wild. Iron is an essential trace element and is important in red blood cell formation, oxygen transport, in the production of ATP, and in enzyme systems (Molenaar, 2005). ISD occurs when there is more iron than normal circulating throughout the body, or when it is being deposited within cells (Clauss, 2012). When the hemosiderin, or iron storage molecule,

The purpose of the experiment is to determine the amount of Fe in the vitamin tablet. Fe(III) is reduced to Fe(II) with hydroquinone, and complexed with o-phenanthroline to form an intense red-orange colored complex, Fe(o-phenanthroline)32+. Several solutions having known concentrations of Fe(II) and the absorbance is measured at 508 nm. A plot of absorbance vs. amount of Fe, is then generated for use as a standard calibration curve. Finally, an unknown A vitamin tablet containing iron is dissolved, diluted, and complexed with the o-phenanthroline and the absorbance measured at 508 nm. The amount of Fe in the vitamin tablet can be determined from the standard calibration curve. It is expected that the absorbance is directly proportional

Describe the role iron plays in the body and how the body metabolizes iron to maintain homeostasis.

Serum ferritin is the only available blood marker for iron storage. It is affected by inflammation and is an acute phase reactant. It is used with caution especially to those patients

Transferrin is the major iron binding protein in vertebrate serum and is mainly synthesized in the liver [91, 92]. It is secreted into the blood but it shows significant expression in organs like brain and kidney. Its main role is in iron metabolism by binding and transporting iron [91]. Transferrin has a high-affinity iron binding property and can produce a hypoferremic response by a rapid depletion of serum iron. This is an important innate humoral defence mechanism since the serum iron is necessary for the growth of many pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria [59, 93, 94]. Some pathogenic bacteria e.g. Aeromonas salmonicida can, however, overcome the lack of iron with specific mechanisms [59, 95].

Iron plays an important role in micro-organisms and plants. This is a component of cell and its deficiency can cause growth inhibition, sporulation, decrease in RNA and DNA synthesis and, can also change the cell morphology. Iron exists in two states (Fe2+ and Fe3+) and therefore, it is suitable as an electron transporter. Iron is also known to regulate the bio-synthesis of porphyrins, toxins, vitamins, antibiotics, cytochromes, pigments, siderophores and aromatic compounds. Iron is present as a cofactor or required by different enzymes and proteins such as peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, nitrogenase, hydrogenase, glutamate synthase, rhibonuclotide diphosphate reductase, aconitase, DAHP, synthatase, cytochromes, ferridoxin and flavoproteins. Iron storage protein like ferritin in animals and bacterio-ferritin in micro-organisms have also been discovered (Stiefel and Watt, 1979).