Description
Product Characteristics: Transferrin is a monomeric glycoprotein of approximately 77 kDa, which serves as an iron-transporter. In normal plasma, transferrin has a concentration of 25-50 µmol / liter, and is usually about one-third saturated with iron, thus providing a large buffering capacity in case of an acute increase in plasma iron levels. Cells take up transferrin-iron complexes (holotransferrin) using transferrin receptor dimers. Upon binding of holotransferrin, the receptor is internalized by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Acidification of endosomes by vesicular membrane proton pumps leads to dissociation of iron ions, whereas transferrin (apotransferrin) remains associated with its receptor (CD71) and recycles to the cell surface, where apotransferrin is released upon exposure to normal pH. Internalization of labeled transferrin thus represents an usefull approach to study endocytosis. Serum concentration rises in iron deficiency and pregnancy and falls in iron overload, infection and inflammatory conditions. Iron/transferrin complex is essential in haemoglobin synthesis and for certain types of cell division.
Target Information: This gene encodes a glycoprotein with an approximate molecular weight of 76.5 kDa. It is thought to have been created as a result of an ancient gene duplication event that led to generation of homologous C and N-terminal domains each of which binds one ion of ferric iron. The function of this protein is to transport iron from the intestine, reticuloendothelial system, and liver parenchymal cells to all proliferating cells in the body. This protein may also have a physiologic role as granulocyte/pollen-binding protein (GPBP) involved in the removal of certain organic matter and allergens from serum. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2009]