P02787

Transferrin also known as TF is a glycoprotein with an approximate molecular weight of 76.5 kDa. Transferrin plays a crucial role in iron metabolism, serving as the primary iron transport protein in vertebrate serum, which is essential for maintaining iron homeostasis in the body. Transferrin consists of two homologous domains, each containing an iron-binding site, allowing effective binding and transport of iron to cells that require it, such as erythroblasts and reticulocytes. This transport mechanism is vital because iron is a key component of hemoglobin and is necessary for oxygen transport in the blood. While the liver is the main site of transferrin synthesis, transferrin is also produced in smaller quantities in the testis and brain, as well as in oligodendrocytes.