Preferential utilization in vitro of iron bound to diferric transferrin by rabbit reticulocytes.

59Fe uptake by rabbit reticulocytes from human transferrin-bound iron was studied by using transferrin solutions (35, 50, 65, 80 and 100% saturated with iron) whose only common characteristic was their content of diferric transferrin. During the early incubation period, 59Fe uptake from each preparation by reticulocytes was identical despite wide variations in amounts of total transferrin, total iron, monoferric transferrin and apotransferrin in solution. During the later phase of incubation, rate of uptake declined and was proportional to each solution's monoferric transferrin content. Uptake was also studied in a comparative experiment which used two identical, partially saturated transferrin preparations, one uniformly 59Fe-labelled and the other tracer-labelled with [59Fe]diferric transferrin. In both experiments, iron uptake by reticulocytes corresponded to utilization of a ferric ion from diferric transferrin before utilization of iron from monoferric transferrin.     

Kinetics of iron passage through subcellular compartments of rabbit reticulocytes

Summary The kinetics of the separate processes of Fe₂(III)-transferrin binding to the transferrin receptor, transferrin-receptor internalization, iron dissociation from transferrin, iron passage through the membrane, and iron mobilization into the cytoplasm were studied by pulse-chase experiments using rabbit reticulocytes and⁵⁹Fe,¹²⁵I-labeled rabbit transferrin. The binding of⁵⁹Fe-transferrin to transferrin receptors was rapid with an apparent rate constant of 2×10⁵ m ^–1 sec^–1. The rate of internalization of⁵⁹Fe-transferrin was directly measured at 520±100 molecules of Fe₂(III)-transferrin internalized/sec/cell with 250±43 sec needed to internalize the entire complement of reticulocyte transferrin receptors. Subsequent to Fe₂(III)-transferrin internalization the flux of⁵⁹Fe was followed through three compartments: internalized transferrin, membrane, and cytosol.A process preceding iron dissociation from transferrin and a reaction involving membrane-associated iron required 17±2 sec and 34±5 sec, respectively. Apparent rate constants of 0.0075±0.002 sec^–1 and 0.0343±0.0118 sec^–1 were obtained for iron dissociation from transferrin and iron mobilization into the cytosol, respectively. Iron dissociation from transferrin is the rate-limiting step. An apparent rate constant of 0.0112±0.0025 sec^–1 was obtained for processes involving iron transport through the membrane although at least two reactions are likely to be involved. Based on mechanistic considerations, iron transport through the membrane may be attributed to an iron reduction step followed by a translocation step. These data indicate that the uptake of iron in reticulocytes is a sequential process, with steps after the internalization of Fe₂(III)-transferrin that are distinct from the handling of transferrin.     

Studies on the forms of iron-transferrin released from rabbit reticulocytes

Measurement of the distribution of the four species of transferrin, viz, apotransferrin, diferric transferrin and the two monoferric transferrin, before and after incubation of iron-rich rabbit transferrin with rabbit reticulocytes showed that not all transferrin released from the cells were in the form of apotransferrin. Instead, a mixture of all four species of the protein was released with apotransferrin and C-terminal monoferric transferrin being the major fractions. The buffer solution containing 125I-labelled transferrin showed a continuous gain in percentages in apotransferrin and C-terminal monoferric transferrin after each incubation with reticulocytes. The N-terminal monoferric transferrin, however, remained unchanged suggesting that in the process of transferrin uptake by cells, the diferric transferrin releases its iron from the acid-labile site at N-domain first before the other iron from the acid-stable site.     

Studies on human lactoferrin by electron paramagnetic resonance, fluorescence, and resonance Raman spectroscopy

Investigations of metal-substituted human lactoferrins by fluorescence, resonance Raman, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirm the close similarity between lactoferrin and serum transferrin. As in the case of Fe(III)- and Cu(II)-transferrin, a significant quenching of apolactoferrin's intrinsic fluorescence is caused by the interaction of Fe(III), Cu(II), Cr(III), Mn(III), and Co(III) with specific metal binding sites. Laser excitation of these same metal-lactoferrins produces resonance Raman spectral features at ca. 1605, 1505, 1275, and 1175 cm-1. These bands are characteristic of tyrosinate coordination to the metal ions as has been observed previously for serum transferins and permit the principal absorption band (lambda max between 400 and 465 nm) in each of the metal-lactoferrins to be assigned to charge transfer between the metal ion and tyrosinate ligands. Furthermore, as in serum transferrin the two metal binding sites in lactoferrin can be distinguished by EPR spectroscopy, particularly with the Cr(III)-substituted protein. Only one of the two sites in lactoferrin allows displacement of Cr(III) by Fe(III). Lactoferrin is known to differ from serum transferrin in its enhanced affinity for iron. This is supported by kinetic studies which show that the rate of uptake of Fe(III) from Fe(III)--citrate is 10 times faster for apolactoferrin than for apotransferrin. Furthermore, the more pronounced conformational change which occurs upon metal binding to lactoferrin is corroborated by the production of additional EPR-detectable Cu(II) binding sites in Mn(III)-lactoferrin. The lower pH required for iron removal from lactoferrin causes some permanent change in the protein as judged by altered rates of Fe(III) uptake and altered EPR spectra in the presence of Cu(II). Thus, the common method of producing apolactoferrin by extensive dialysis against citric acid (pH 2) appears to have an adverse effect on the protein.     

The role of the anion-binding site of transferrin in its interaction with the reticulocyte

Specific and tight binding of Fe(III) by transferrin does not occur unless a suitable anion is concomitantly bound. Bicarbonate, which normally occupies the anion binding site of the protein, may be replaced by an oxalate ion. The resulting ternary complex of Fe(III), transferrin and oxalate is less than 35% as effective as the bicarbonate complex in serving as an iron donor for heme synthesis by the reticulocyte. However, the binding of transferrin to the reticulocyte is not altered by the substitution of oxalate for bicarbonate. When both the oxalate and bicarbonate forms are incubated with reticulocytes, the uptake of iron from the bicarbonate complex is substantially depressed. The free oxalate ion, at the same concentration as the ternary Fe-transferrin-oxalate complex, does not alter the uptake of iron by reticulocytes from the native form of transferrin. The ternary Fe-transferrin-malonate complex is also less efficient than the bicarbonate complex as an iron donor to the reticulocyte, but the effect is less striking than that observed with the oxalate complex. The hypothesis is advanced that the mechanism of iron uptake from transferrin during the transferrin-reticulocyte interaction first entails an attack upon the anion bound to the protein, following which iron release to the heme-synthesizing apparatus of the cell takes place.     

Effect of pH and iron content of transferrin on its binding to reticulocyte receptors

The effect of pH on the binding of apotransferrin and diferric transferrin to reticulocyte membrane receptors was investigated using rabbit transferrin and rabbit reticulocyte ghosts, intact cells and a detergent-solubilized extract of reticulocyte membranes. The studies were performed within the pH range 4.5–8.0. The binding of apotransferrin to ghosts and membrane extracts and its uptake by intact reticulocytes was high at pH levels below 6.5 but decreased to very low values as the pH was raised above 6.5. By contrast, diferric transferrin showed a high level of binding and uptake between pH 7.0 and 8.0 in addition to binding only slightly less than did apotransferrin at pH values below 6.5. It is proposed that the high affinity of apotransferrin for its receptor at lower pH values and low affinity at pH 7.0 or above allow transferrin to remain bound to the receptor when it is within acidic intracellular vesicles, even after loss of its iron, but also allow ready release from the cell membrane when it is exteriorized by exocytosis after iron uptake. The binding of transferrin to the receptor throughout the endocytosis-exocytosis cycle may protect it from proteolytic breakdown and aid in its recycling to the outer cell membrane     

Transferrin and iron uptake by rat reticulocytes

The uptake of transferrin labeled with 3H and 59Fe by rat reticulocytes was studied to clarify the characteristics of the uptake process and intracellular transport. Rat reticulocytes took up transferrin in a saturable, time- and temperature-dependent manner. Scatchard analysis of the binding parameters indicated that transferrin molecules were bound to cell-surface receptors with high affinity. Monodansyl- cadaverine, a potent inhibitor of transglutaminase, reduced the amount of internalized transferrin but has no effect on the total amount of cell-associated transferrin, suggesting that transferrin is taken up by rat reticulocytes via receptor-mediated endocytosis. About 50% of the internalized 3H label was released from the cells after reincubation for 1 h in fresh medium. In contrast, no release of 59Fe label was observed. By immunoprecipitation and subsequent SDS-PAGE the released 3H-labeled product was identified as apotransferrin. Lysosomotropic reagents and a proton ionophore reduced the uptake of 59Fe. These results indicated that iron was removed from transferrin at an intracellular site in an acidic environment. The released iron was found not to associate with any intermediate ligands before it was utilized for heme synthesis in mitochondria.     

Mobilization of iron from endocytic vesicles. The effects of acidification and reduction

The factors necessary to dissociate iron from transferrin in endocytic vesicles and to mobilize the iron across the vesicle membrane were studied in a preparation of endocytic vesicles markedly enriched in transferrin-transferrin receptor complexes isolated from rabbit reticulocytes. Vesicles were prepared with essentially fully saturated transferrin by incubating the reticulocytes with the protonophore carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone prior to incubation with 59Fe, 125I-transferrin with or without fluorescein isothiocyanate labeling. Initiation of acidification by the addition of ATP was sufficient to achieve dissociation of 59Fe from transferrin with a rate constant of 0.054 +/- 0.06 s-1. Mobilization of 59Fe out of the vesicles required, besides ATP, the addition of a reductant with 1 mM ascorbate, allowing approximately 60% mobilization at 10 min with a rate constant of 0.0038 +/- 0.0006 s-1. An NADH:ferricyanide reductase activity could be demonstrated in the vesicles with an activity of 7.1 x 10(-9) mol of NADH reduced per min/mg of vesicle protein. Both dissociation and mobilization were inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone, and monensin. Mobilization, but not dissociation, was inhibited by the permeant Fe(II) chelator alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl. The Fe(III) chelators deferoxamine, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, and apotransferrin did not promote mobilization of dissociated iron in the absence of a reductant. This study establishes the basis for the cellular incorporation of iron through the endocytic pathway in which the endocytic vesicle membrane utilizes, in a sequential way, an acidification system, an iron reduction system, and an Fe(II) transporter system.     

Characterization of monoferric fragments obtained by tryptic cleavage of bovine transferrin.

1. The electrophoretically fast (F) and slow (S) fragments obtained by tryptic cleavage of bovine iron-saturated transferrin differed in carbohydrate content and peptide 'maps'. 2. A fragment capable of binding one Fe3+ ion per molecule was isolated after brief tryptic digestion of bovine apotransferrin and shown closely to resemble the S fragment obtained from the iron-saturated protein. 3. Fragments F and S are probably derived from the N- and C-terminal halves of the transferrin molecule respectively. 4. Bovine transferrin could donate iron to rabbit reticulocytes, but the monoferric fragments possessed little iron-donating ability.     

An evaluation of lysosomal enzyme leakage as a factor influencing the behaviour of transformed cells.

The effect of concanavalin A on transferrin and iron uptake by reticulocytes was determined using rabbit reticulocytes and rabbit transferrin labelled with ⁵⁹Fe and ¹²⁵I and concanavalin A (ConA) labelled with ¹³¹I. In concentrations of 50–200 μg/ml ConA markedly inhibited iron uptake but did not inhibit transferrin uptake or release from the cells. ConA was itself taken up by rabbit blood cells in a manner similar to that of transferrin except that the uptake was not specific for reticulocytes but occurred also with mature erythrocytes. The inhibition of iron uptake by concanavalin and the uptake of concanavalin by the cells were both inhibited by α-methyl-d-mannoside. It is concluded that the effects observed were due to the binding of concanavalin to glycoproteins of the cell membrane, either by a direct interaction with transferrin receptors or by the production of a non-specific change in the structure of the membrane.     

The effect of the iron saturation of transferrin on its binding and uptake by rabbit reticulocytes.

Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in urea was used to prepare the four molecular species of transferrin:diferric transferrin, apotransferrin and the two monoferric transferrins with either the C-terminal or the N-terminal metal-binding site occupied. The interaction of these 125I-labelled proteins with rabbit reticulocytes was investigated. At 4 degrees C the average value for the association constant for the binding of transferrin to reticulocytes was found to increase with increasing iron content of the protein. The association constant for apotransferrin binding was 4.6 X 10(6)M-1, for monoferric (C-terminal iron) 2.5 X 10(7)M-1, for monoferric (N-terminal iron) 2.8 X 10(7)M-1 and for diferric transferrin, 1.1 X 10(8)M-1. These differences in the association constants did not affect the processing of the transferrin species by the cells at 37 degrees C. Accessibility of the proteins to extracellular proteinase indicated that the transferrin was internalized by the cells regardless of the iron content of the protein, since in each case 70% was inaccessible. Cycling of the cellular receptors may also occur in the absence of bound transferrin.     

Interaction of gastrin with transferrin: effects of ferric ions

The sedimentation behavior of 125I-labeled gastrin has been studied as a function of Fe3+ ion concentration and pH. Both sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium experiments indicated that high-molecular-weight Fe3+-gastrin complexes were formed at pH 5.0 and pH 7.4. Self-association of gastrin alone was observed at pH values below 5.0. 125I-labeled gastrin bound to human serum apotransferrin at pH 7.4. Scatchard analysis of the gastrin-apotransferrin complex gave a Kd of approximately 6.4 microM at 37 degrees C, with two binding sites per molecule of apotransferrin. No significant binding of gastrin to diferric transferrin was observed under the same conditions. The binding of gastrin to apotransferrin was inhibited by NaCl. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that gastrin and transferrin act synergistically in the uptake of dietary iron by the gastrointestinal tract.     

Electron spin echo envelope modulation evidence for carbonate binding to iron(III) and copper(II) transferrin and lactoferrin

Iron binding to transferrin and lactoferrin requires a synergistic anion, which is carbonate in vivo. The anion is thought to play a key role in iron binding and release. To understand better the iron-carbonate interaction, experiments were performed with iron(III) and copper(II) complexes of human milk lactoferrin and serum transferrin with carbon-13-labeled carbonate. Modulation frequencies were present in the Fourier transforms of two-pulse and three-pulse electron spin echo envelope modulation data for the Fe(III) and Cu(II) complexes, consistent with binding of carbonate to both metals. The metal-13C interaction was similar for the lactoferrin and transferrin complexes. Spin coupling to the nitrogen of a coordinated histidine imidazole was observed for both metals. Both the metal-nitrogen and the metal-carbon spin coupling constants were about a factor of 5 smaller for the iron complexes than for the copper complexes, which indicated substantial similarity in the metal-carbonate and metal-imidazole binding for the two metals.     

Iron oxidation and transferrin formation by phosvitin.

The catalytic activity of phosvitin in Fe(II) oxidation and the addition of iron to transferrin were studied under various conditions. It was concluded that the Fe(II) oxidized by phosvitin would bind to apotransferrin, although an appreciable fraction of Fe(III) remained bound to phosvitin. Fe(III) also migrated from phosvitin to apotransferrin. This reaction was first-order with respect to Fe(III)-phosvitin concentration with a half-time (t1/2) of 10 min, and a first-order rate constant, k=0.069min-1, in 700 muM-phosphate buffer, pH 7.2, at 30 degrees C. The catalysis of the oxidation of Fe(III) by phosvitin was proportional to O2 concentration, and is quite different from the relative O2 independence of Fe(II) oxidation as catalysed by ferroxidase. A scheme for the mobilization and transfer of iron in the chicken, including the role of ferroxidase, phosyitin and transferrin, is presented.     

The nonspecific binding of Fe3+ to transferrin in the absence of synergistic anions.

An obligatory role for barbonate (or other synergistic anions) in the specific binding of Fe3+ by transferrin has been a point of controversy for two decades. There are an equal number of confirmatory and negative reports of specific Fe3+-transferrin binary complexes. A criticism of previous studies is the use of only one synthetic route, and limited product testing. This study reports the development of several preparative routes aimed at the formation of a specific Fe3+-transferrin complex, and the characterization of the products by spectrophotometry and chemical reactivity. The preparative routes described include: (a) displacement of carbonate from Fe3+-transferrin-CO32- at low pH followed by removal of CO2 by several techniques; (b) addition of FeCl3 to apotransferrin under CO2-free conditions; (c) oxidation of Fe2+ in the presence of apotransferrin under CO2-free conditions; (d) reaction of apotransferrin with nonsubstituting Fe3+ complexes in the absence of CO2; and (e) attempts to displace anions from weak Fe3+-transferrin-anion complexes. The product were examined with regard to their visible spectra, and their examined with regard to their visible spectra, and their reactivity with: (a) NaHCO3, (b) Fe3+-nitrilotriacetic acid in NaHCO3, and (c) citrate. The results are compared with the characteristics of Fe3+-transferrin-anion complexes and nonspecific Fe3+, transferrin mixtures. The data indicate that in the absence of synergistic anions the affinity of the specific metal binding sites of transfe-rin for Fe3+ is so low as to not compete favorably with hydrolytic polymerization and nonspecific binding effects.     

Amines as inhibitors of iron transport in rabbit reticulocytes

The effect of the known inhibitors of iron uptake, n-butylamine and NH4Cl, was examined at the molecular level to more precisely define the mechanisms by which these lysosomotropic agents block iron uptake by rabbit reticulocytes. Utilizing a rapid pulse-chase technique to follow the handling of a cohort of 59Fe, 125I-transferrin bound to rabbit reticulocytes, both amines were observed to have no effect on the cell-mediated release of 59Fe from internalized transferrin. The results indicated, however, that both agents acted to 1) retard the internalization of transferrin bound to transferrin receptors on the plasma membrane of reticulocytes, 2) retard the externalization of internalized transferrin, and 3) block the transport into the cytosol of iron released from transferrin.     

Spectroscopic analysis of the unfolding of transition metal-ion complexes of human lactoferrin and transferrin.

1. Human lactoferrin and transferrin are capable of binding several transition metal ions [Fe(III), Cu(II), Mn(III), Co(III)] into specific binding sites in the presence of bicarbonate. 2. Increased conformational stability and increased resistance to protein unfolding is observed for these metal-ion complexes compared to the apoprotein form of these proteins. 3. Mn(III)-lactoferrin and transferrin complexes exhibit steeper denaturation transitions than the Co(III) complexes of these proteins suggesting greater cooperativity in the unfolding process. 4. The incorporation of Fe(III) into the specific metal binding sites offers the greatest resistance to thermal unfolding when compared to the other transition metal ions studied. 5. Non-coincidence of unfolding transitions is observed, with fluorescence transition midpoints being lower than those determined by absorbance measurements. 6. Fully denatured proteins in the presence of urea and alkyl ureas exhibit fluorescence wavelength maxima at 355-356 nm indicative of tryptophan exposure upon protein unfolding.     

Complexation of desferricoprogen with trivalent Fe, Al, Ga, In and divalent Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn metal ions: effects of the linking chain structure on the metal binding ability of hydroxamate based siderophores

Complexes of the natural siderophore, desferricoprogen (DFC), with several trivalent and divalent metal ions in aqueous solution were studied by pH-potentiometry, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry. DFC was found to be an effective metal binding ligand, which, in addition to Fe(III), forms complexes of high stability with Ga(III), Al(III), In(III), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II). Fe(II), however, is oxidized by DFC under anaerobic conditions and Fe(III) complexes are formed. By comparing the results with those of desferrioxamine B (DFB), it can be concluded that the conjugated beta-double bond slightly increases the stability of the hydroxamate chelates, consequently increases the stability of mono-chelated complexes of DFC. Any steric effect by the connecting chains arises only in the bis- and tris-chelated complexes. With metal ions possessing a relatively big ionic radius (Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), In(III)) DFC, containing a bit longer chains than DFB, forms slightly more stable complexes. With smaller metal ions the trend is the opposite. Also a notable difference is that stable trinuclear complex, [Cu(3)L(2)], is formed with DFC but not with DFB. Possible bio-relevance of the Fe(II)/Fe(III) results is also discussed in the paper.     

Factors influencing the uptake of iron and plutonium into cells

Uptake of 59Fe as well as 125I-labelled Fe-transferrin into HeLa cells points to the existence of a limited number of specific binding sites. This is in contrast to hepatocytes and hepatoma cells (Hep G2) where metal uptake from transferrin is very low, not saturable and cannot be prevented by an excess of the protein. Iron uptake into these cells is much higher from the citrate complex. The same is true for plutonium uptake into rat hepatocytes, while the uptake of this metal into Hep G2 cells is very small regardless of the ligand. In contrast to iron, plutonium presented as citrate is taken up into HeLa cells much better than plutonium presented as transferrin. The uptake of both metals from the citrate complex requires a high activation energy and can be prevented only by inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. Other processes such as endocytosis, intactness of microtubuli, assembly of microfilaments or pH of the lysosomes do not seem to be of importance. Metal uptake from the citrate complex can be prevented only by the presence of other chelating agents and/or by transferrin. It can be assumed, therefore, that the metals react directly with constituents of the cell membrane, a process in which chelating agents can successfully compete if they form strong enough complexes with the metals.     

Synthesis and properties of different metal complexes of the siderophore desferriferricrocin

Desferriferricrocin is a cyclic hexa-peptide siderophore with three hydroxamates as primary coordination groups. It forms metal complexes with Fe(III), Cr(III), Al(III), Ga(III), Cu(II), and Zn(II). These complexes were prepared and characterized using UV–vis, circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS). The mononuclear trivalent metal complexes of desferriferricrocin were stable in aqueous solutions, and their coordination centers primarily adopted the Λ configuration. The formation of multinuclear complexes of desferriferricrocin was determined by ESI-MS. Desferriferricrocin was able to bind up to three Cu(II) and two Zn(II) respectively. Heteronuclear complexes containing one trivalent and one divalent were also determined. In these complexes, amide nitrogens were utilized as alternative binding groups of desferriferricrocin in addition to the primary binding groups, the hydroxamates. Published online December 2004