Ferroportin-1 mutant

摘要

A mutant, human ferroportin-1 protein and encoding nucleic acid are provided. The mutant ferroportin-1 protein has a deletion of valine 162 compared to wild-type ferroportin-1 protein. The mutant protein and nucleic acid may be useful in detection of a predisposition to iron overload disorders such as haemochromatosis. Furthermore, it is proposed that the valine 162 deletion is a loss-of-function mutation that may underlie iron overload disorders such as haemochromatosis. Therefore, methods of both diagnosis and treatment of haemochromatosis are provided.