Transferrin variants in sheep: separation and characterization by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing*

Summary. Isoelectric focusing with carrier ampholytes in ultrathin polyacrylamide gels and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in a discontinuous buffer system were used for the separation of sheep transferrin variants. For identification of the different iron-binding sites of transferrin a stepwise urea gradient, different degrees of iron saturation and double one-dimensional electrophoresis were used. Isoelectric focusing results in an increased resolution of the Fe₀-transferrin, Fe₁-transferrin and Fe₂-transferrin region. At the level of Fe₀-transferrin and Fe₁-transferrin the variants I, A, G, B, C, D, M, E, Q, P can be identified. The method is especially suitable for genetic studies. For screening purposes up to 108 samples can be separated within one run in an ultrathin gel.