What is "ferroportin"

n. (context protein English) A transmembrane protein that transports iron

Ferroportin-1 also known as solute carrier family 40 member 1 (SLC40A1) or iron-regulated transporter 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SLC40A1 gene. Ferroportin is a transmembrane protein that transports iron from the inside of a cell to the outside of the cell. After iron is absorbed into the cells of the intestine, ferroportin allows that iron to be transported out of those cells and into the bloodstream. This is a particularly important function of this transporter, of course.