Tags: Protein.
Hepcidin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HAMP gene.The product encoded by this gene is involved in the maintenance of iron homeostasis and it is necessary for the regulation of iron storage in macrophages and for intestinal iron absorption. The preproprotein is post-translationally cleaved into mature peptides of 20 22 and 25 amino acids and these active peptides are rich in cysteines which form intramolecular bonds that stabilize their beta sheet structures.