Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Jensen MP
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3462652 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Nature chemical biology 20110626 8
Plutonium is a toxic synthetic element with no natural biological function, but it is strongly retained by humans when ingested. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, receptor binding assays and synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy, we find that rat adrenal gland (PC12) cells can acquire plutonium in vitro through the major iron acquisition pathway--receptor-mediated endocytosis of the iron transport protein serum transferrin; however, only one form of the plutonium-transferrin complex is act ...[more]