transferrin

[ trans-fer-in ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a plasma glycoprotein that transports dietary iron to the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.

transferrin

/ trænsˈfɜːrɪn /

noun

1. biochem any of a group of blood glycoproteins that transport iron Also calledbeta globulinsiderophilin

Word History and Origins

Origin of transferrin¹

1947; trans- + Latin ferr ( um ) iron + -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of transferrin¹

C20: from trans- + ferro- + -in

Example Sentences

The AAV binds to the human transferrin receptor, which is highly expressed in the blood-brain barrier in humans.

From Science Daily

Such receptors could be targets for ‘Trojan horse’ drug delivery8, in which proteins are engineered to bind to specific transmembrane receptors that can cross the BBB, such as the transferrin receptor.

From Nature

To move iron atoms from one cell to another, we seal them inside a kind of molecular lockbox, called transferrin.

From New York Times

Crucially, the antibody binds more tightly to BACE1 than to transferrin, and this pulls it off the blood vessel and into the brain.

From Nature

The subterfuge involves the transferrin receptor, a docking site used  to transport iron into the brain.

From Scientific American