Characterization and partial purification of a ferrireductase from human duodenal microvillus membranes

Reduction of ferric iron in the presence of HuTu 80 cells or duodenal microvillus membranes (MVMs) was investigated. With both systems, NADH-dependent reduction of Fe3+/NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid) was demonstrated, using the ferrous iron chelator ferrozine. Uptake of Fe3+ from Fe3+/NTA by HuTu 80 cells was strongly inhibited by addition of ferrozine, indicating that Fe2+ is the substrate for the iron uptake system. With isolated plasma membranes it is shown that the reductase activity is sensitive to trypsin and incubation at 65 degrees C. The reductase activity could be extracted from the plasma membrane and partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and isoelectric focusing. From the purification and inhibition characteristics we conclude that reduction of ferric iron on the surface of duodenal plasma membranes is catalysed by a membrane protein.