Description Apo Transferrin Human, Native Protein (Serum) is a glycoprotein purified from human serum that has a molecular mass of approximately 77 kDa. It has a low iron content. Summary When not bound to iron, transferrin is known as "apotransferrin". When saturated with iron, transferrin is known as “holotransferrin”. Transferrin is the iron-transport protein of vertebrate serum and donates iron to cells through interaction with a specific membrane receptor, CD71. Transferrin appears to be indispensable for most cells growing in tissue culture. It is frequently referred to as a growth factor because, in analogy to other growth factor-receptor interactions, proliferating cells express high numbers of transferrin receptors, and the binding of transferrin to their receptors is needed for cells to initiate and maintain their DNA synthesis. Apart from its role as an iron transport protein, transferrin acts as a cytokine and has functions that may not be related to its iron-carrying capacity. Transferrin is a crucial component for the cultivation of mammalian cells in-vitro. Human Transferrin is used as a detoxicant in media by binding contaminating metal ions. Human Transferrin is often used as a nutrient in fermentation media for recombinant protein and biopharmaceutical production. Additional common uses for Human Transferrin are affinity purification of anti-human transferrin antibodies and also for receptor mediated transfection of molecules (such as DNA) into cells. Other Names Human ApoTransferrin, iron-free transferrin, Serotransferrin, Transferrin, Siderophilin, Beta-1-metal-binding globulin, TF, PRO1557, PRO2086, DKFZp781D0156, ATF Source Human serum Formulation Sterile filtered white lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. The protein (10 mg/ml) was lyophilized from 20mM NH4HC03 solution. May contain traces of buffer salts. Purity Greater than 98.0% as determined by Coomassie blue stained SDS-PAGE and Cellulose Acetate electrophoresis. Iron Content The iron content was estimated by ICP and was found to be
