Basic Information of Transferrin Human(TF)

Transferrins are iron-binding blood plasma glycoproteins that control the level of free iron in biological fluids. In humans, it is encoded by the TF gene.

Transferrin is a glycoprotein that binds iron very tightly but reversibly. Although iron bound to transferrin is less than 0.1% (4 mg) of the total body iron, it is the most important iron pool, with the highest rate of turnover (25 mg/24 h). Transferrin has a molecular weight of around 80 kDa and contains 2 specific high-affinity Fe(III) binding sites. The affinity of transferrin for Fe(III) is extremely high (1023 M−1 at pH 7.4), but decreases progressively with decreasing pH below neutrality.

When not bound to iron, it is known as "apo-transferrin" (see also apoprotein).
The liver is the main source of manufacturing transferrin, but other sources such as the brain also produce this molecule . The main role of transferrin is to deliver iron from absorption centres in the duodenum and white blood cell macrophages to all tissues. Predominantly, transferrin plays a key role where erythropoiesis and active cell division occur. In order for iron ion to be introduced into the cell a carrier protein is used, known as a transferrin receptor. The receptor helps maintain iron homeostasis in the cells by controlling iron concentrations.

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