apotransferrin

Apotransferrin is the iron-free form of transferrin, a glycoprotein responsible for binding and transporting iron in blood plasma. Unlike holotransferrin (iron-bound), apotransferrin does not carry iron but retains the ability to bind ferric ions. It plays a crucial physiological role in maintaining iron homeostasis by accepting and distributing iron among body organs. Apotransferrin is also used as an important transport factor in defined cell culture media and has been studied as a drug delivery vehicle due to its efficient cellular uptake via transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis[1][2][4][5]. In research settings, it has shown potential therapeutic effects such as increasing hemoglobin levels and improving erythropoiesis in models of thalassemia[2]. Apotransferrin is typically purified from human plasma for laboratory use.

Other names

transferrin (iron-free)apo-transferrinapoTf