TRANSFERRIN

The Uses of TRANSFERRIN

Transferrin, similar to insulin, is a component of most serum-free media formulations. The main function of transferrin is to transport iron into cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis.
Transferrin from human serum has been used as a supplement in:

• differentiation medium
• keratinocyte medium
• haemogenic endothelium culture medium
• embryoid-body medium
• blast colony forming cell-culture medium

General Description

Transferrin is a serum glycoprotein that participates in the transport of iron from absorption and storage sites to tissue cells. The iron-bound transferrin, also referred to as ferrotransferrin, binds to specific cell surface receptors on growing cells and are internalized by endocytosis. Once inside, the iron is released into the cells and the iron-free transferrin, also referred to as apotransferrin, is exocytosed outside the cell without being degraded.