Rat Transferrin ELISA Kit

Supplementary information

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Biological function summary

Transferrin facilitates the transportation of iron ions. It delivers iron to cells by binding to transferrin receptors on cell surfaces forming a complex that gets internalized via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Inside the endosomes acidic conditions cause iron to release from transferrin enabling its utilization in cellular processes like DNA synthesis and electron transport. Transferrin itself acts independently and does not form part of a larger protein complex. Variants of transferrin include mouse transferrin bovine transferrin and biotinylated transferrin each with similar function across different species.

Pathways

Transferrin operates centrally in iron metabolism and homeostasis pathways. It functions in coordination with the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) which facilitates cellular uptake of the transferrin-iron complex. Additionally transferrin plays a role in the hepcidin regulatory pathway. Hepcidin modulates iron homeostasis by decreasing iron absorption in the intestine and controlling iron release from macrophages and hepatocytes. Transferrin's ability to bind iron connects it to other iron-containing proteins such as ferritin which stores excess iron in cells.