Vitellogenin-iron and hemoglobin synthesis in avian reticulocytes

Abstract

Avian vitellogenin has been studied as an iron carrier for hemoglobin synthesis by reticulocytes.The Fe-vitellogenin uptake by the immature red cells is progressive with time, following an unspecific iron uptake process.The iron uptake from Fe-vitellogenin was in proportion to the immature red cells present and the radioactive iron was found in the hemoglobin synthesized by these cells.These results open up the possibility of assigning a secondary role to the Fe-vitellogenin in the avian erythropoiesis, added to the classical iron transport function for egg production.