Apo Transferrin (ATF)

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 referred to frequently 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.

Protein Applications:

Human Transferrin is a crucial component for the cultivation and long-term cells growth of mammalian cells in-vitro. It is often used as a nutrient in fermentation media for recombinant protein and biopharmaceutical production.

Additional common uses of Human Transferrin are:

• Molecular weight, Affinity purification of anti-human transferrin antibodies.
• Receptor mediated transfection of molecules such as DNA, into cells.