transferrin
Definition
Noun: A specific type of beta globulin found in blood plasma. Its primary biological function is to bind and transport iron throughout the body.
Usage
"Transferrin" is a scientific and medical term. It is used as a countable noun when referring to the protein molecule itself, and as an uncountable noun when referring to it as a substance or measuring its level. * The liver synthesizes transferrin. * A blood test can measure your serum transferrin level. * Each transferrin molecule can bind two atoms of ferric iron.
Examples
- Medical Context: "Low transferrin saturation is a common indicator of iron deficiency."
- Biological Context: "Transferrin delivers iron to cells by binding to specific receptors on their surface."
- General Scientific Context: "The gene responsible for encoding transferrin is located on chromosome 3."
Advanced Usage
- Transferrin Saturation: A calculated percentage (serum iron / total iron-binding capacity) used to assess iron status.
- Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT): A variant of transferrin used as a biomarker for chronic excessive alcohol consumption.
Variants and Related Words
- Apotransferrin (n.): The form of transferrin without bound iron.
- Holotransferrin (n.): The form of transferrin saturated with bound iron.
- Transferrin Receptor (n.): A cell surface protein that binds holotransferrin to import iron into the cell.
Synonyms
- Siderophilin (n.): A less common biochemical synonym for transferrin.
Noun
-
a globulin in blood plasma that carries iron
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