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Ferroportin

The sole known cellular iron exporter, present on the basolateral membrane of enterocytes, hepatocytes, and macrophages, whose surface expression is controlled by hepcidin binding.

Also: FPN, SLC40A1

Encoded by SLC40A1, ferroportin transports ferrous iron from cytosol to extracellular fluid where it is oxidized by hephaestin (intestine) or ceruloplasmin (liver) and bound by transferrin. Hepcidin binding causes ferroportin internalization and degradation, throttling iron entry to plasma. Loss-of-function mutations cause ferroportin disease (type 4 hereditary hemochromatosis); hepcidin resistance variants cause iron overload.

How one textbook covers it

  • Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 12th ed. — Ch 10: Iron

    Encoded by SLC40A1, ferroportin transports ferrous iron from cytosol to extracellular fluid where it is oxidized by hephaestin (intestine) or ceruloplasmin (liver) and bound by transferrin. Hepcidin binding causes ferroportin internalization and degradation, throttling iron entry to plasma. Loss-of-function mutations cause ferroportin disease (type 4 hereditary hemochromatosis); hepcidin resistance variants cause iron overload.

Related terms

DMT1, Hemochromatosis, Hepcidin, Transferrin