A novel strategy of natural plant ferritin to protect DNA from oxidative damage during iron oxidation

► Heteropolymeric plant ferritin completely protects DNA from oxidative damage during iron oxidation. ► Its homopolymeric counterparts do not. ► The detoxification reaction occurs only in the presence of heteropolymeric ferritin. ► Hydroxyl radicals are apparently generated via the Fenton reaction in the presence of ferritin's homopolymeric analogs.