jerntransportprotein

Jerntransportprotein, also known as transferrin, is a vital protein found in the blood plasma of vertebrates. Its primary function is to bind and transport iron from sites of absorption and storage to cells throughout the body that require it for various metabolic processes, such as hemoglobin synthesis. Iron is essential for oxygen transport, DNA synthesis, and cellular respiration. Because free iron can be toxic and catalyze damaging oxidative reactions, it must be tightly regulated and transported by specialized proteins.

Transferrin has a high affinity for iron, capable of binding two iron ions per molecule. This binding occurs primarily in the duodenum, where dietary iron is absorbed. Once loaded with iron, transferrin circulates in the bloodstream. When it encounters cells that need iron, it binds to specific transferrin receptors on the cell surface. This binding triggers the internalization of the transferrin-receptor complex into the cell, where the iron is released and utilized. The apotransferrin (iron-free transferrin) is then recycled back into the bloodstream. The production of transferrin is regulated by the body's iron levels, with higher levels of iron leading to decreased transferrin synthesis and vice versa. This mechanism helps to maintain iron homeostasis within the body.