recombinant transferrin

Recombinant transferrin is a biotechnologically engineered version of human transferrin, the primary protein responsible for iron transport in the blood. Produced using recombinant DNA technology, most notably in plant-based systems like rice (ExpressTec), it is identical in sequence and function to endogenous human serum transferrin. Its mechanism of action involves binding two ferric iron (Fe3+) ions with high affinity and subsequently interacting with the transferrin receptor (TfR1/CD71) on cell surfaces, triggering receptor-mediated endocytosis. Therapeutically, recombinant transferrin is being developed to treat iron deficiency anemia, atransferrinemia, and to mitigate the toxic effects of non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) in patients with iron overload conditions such as beta-thalassemia or those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Beyond its role in iron metabolism, it is also utilized as a targeting moiety in drug delivery systems to transport therapeutic payloads across the blood-brain barrier or into tumor cells that overexpress transferrin receptors.

Brand names

Optiferrin

Other names

recombinant human transferrinrecombinant human serum transferrinrecombinant human apotransferrin