FTL belongs to the ferritin family. Ferritin is the main intracellular iron storage protein in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. It consists of 24 subunits of ferritin heavy and light chains. The changes in the composition of ferritin subunits may affect the absorption and release rates of iron in different tissues. FTL is important for iron homeostasis and plays a role in transporting iron into cells. FTL mediates the absorption of iron by cystic cells in developing kidneys.
