Anti-Human CD71 - FITC (C165-GRP)

CD71 is a 95 kD type II homodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein. The function of CD71 is believed to be primarily nutritional. It plays a role in the control of cellular proliferation through facilitation of iron uptake by way of ferrotransferrin binding and the recycling of apotransferrin to the cell surface. Additionally, transferrin receptor is required for erythropoiesis and proper neurological development, and it has also been suggested that a growth signal might be generated by the transferrin/transferrin receptor interaction. Current genetic analysis indicates that the structural genes for transferrin receptor and for a melanoma-associated antigen (p97), and perhaps transferrin itself, each map to a common chromosome in humans. These proteins exhibit primary sequence homology with transferrin and have the ability to bind ferric iron. Therefore, it is thought that genetic rearrangements in this iron transport region may be associated with malignant transformation. Hence, anti-CD71 mAbs are thought to have therapeutic potential in cases of human leukemia & lymphoma.