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Lactoferrin
 
 
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Lactoferrin (LF), also known as lactotransferrin (LTF), is a globular
Globular protein

Globular proteins, or spheroproteins are one of the two main protein classes, comprising sphere-like proteins that are more or less soluble in aqueous solution ....
 multifunctional protein with antimicrobial activity (bacteriocide
Bacteriocide

A bactericide or bacteriocide is a substance that kills bacterium and, preferably, nothing else. Bactericides are either disinfectants, antiseptics or antibiotics....
, fungicide
Fungicide

Fungicides are chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungus or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of Crop yield, quality and profit....
) and is part of the innate defense, mainly at mucoses. Lactoferrin is found in milk
Milk

Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals . It provides the primary source of nutrition for newborn mammals before they are able to digestion other types of food....
 and many mucosal secretions such as tears
Tears

Tears are the liquid product of a process of lacrimation to clean and lubricate the eyes. The word lacrimation may also be used in a medical or literary sense to refer to crying....
 and saliva. Lactoferrin is also present in secondary granules of PMN
Neutrophil granulocyte

Neutrophil granulocytes, generally referred to as neutrophils, are the most abundant type of white blood cells in humans and form an essential part of the immune system....
 and also is secreted by some acinar cells. Lactoferrin can be purified from milk or produced recombinantly.






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Encyclopedia


Lactoferrin (LF), also known as lactotransferrin (LTF), is a globular
Globular protein

Globular proteins, or spheroproteins are one of the two main protein classes, comprising sphere-like proteins that are more or less soluble in aqueous solution ....
 multifunctional protein with antimicrobial activity (bacteriocide
Bacteriocide

A bactericide or bacteriocide is a substance that kills bacterium and, preferably, nothing else. Bactericides are either disinfectants, antiseptics or antibiotics....
, fungicide
Fungicide

Fungicides are chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungus or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of Crop yield, quality and profit....
) and is part of the innate defense, mainly at mucoses. Lactoferrin is found in milk
Milk

Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals . It provides the primary source of nutrition for newborn mammals before they are able to digestion other types of food....
 and many mucosal secretions such as tears
Tears

Tears are the liquid product of a process of lacrimation to clean and lubricate the eyes. The word lacrimation may also be used in a medical or literary sense to refer to crying....
 and saliva. Lactoferrin is also present in secondary granules of PMN
Neutrophil granulocyte

Neutrophil granulocytes, generally referred to as neutrophils, are the most abundant type of white blood cells in humans and form an essential part of the immune system....
 and also is secreted by some acinar cells. Lactoferrin can be purified from milk or produced recombinantly. Human colostrum
Colostrum

Colostrum is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands of mammals in late pregnancy and the few days after giving childbirth....
 has the highest concentration, followed by human milk, then cow milk.

Structure

Lactoferrin belongs to the transferrin family proteins (TF
Transferrin

Transferrin is a blood plasma protein for iron ion delivery that, in humans, is encoded by the TF gene. Transferrin is a glycoprotein, which binds iron very tightly but reversibly....
, melanotransferrin, ovotransferin, etc.). Its molecular mass is 80,000 u
Atomic mass unit

The unified atomic mass unit , or dalton or, sometimes, universal mass unit, is a Units of measurement of mass used to express atomic weight and molecular masses....
 (80 kDa). It generally contains two bound Fe+2 ions. It contains 4 identical domains, with two surrounding each iron atom.

Function

Lactoferrin antimicrobial activity is due partly to its high affinity for Fe3+
Iron

Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. Iron is a Group 8 element and period 4 element. Iron is lustrous and silvery in color....
 (ferric state). LF proteolysis produces lactoferricin, kaliocin-1 small peptides with antimicrobial activity. The combination of iron and lactoferrin in mucosal secretions modulate the ability and aggregation of pathogenic bacteria, and inhibit both bacteria and viruses by binding to host cells/viral particles. This inhibits the ability of bacteria and viruses to attach to cell membranes. It is also an antifungal agent.

Lactoferrin receptors have been found on brush-border cells, PMN, monocytes, Mf
Macrophage

Macrophages are white blood cells within tissues, produced by the division of monocytes. Human macrophages are about 21 micrometres in diameter....
 and activated lymphocytes.

Lactoferrin inhibits dendritic cell-mediated HIV-1 transmission by blocking gp120
Gp120

gp120 is a glycoprotein exposed on the surface of the HIV structure and genome. The 120 in its name comes from its molecular weight of 120 Dalton ....
 to DC-SIGN
DC-SIGN

DC-SIGN also known as CD209 is a protein which in humans is encoded by the CD209 gene.DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin receptor present on both macrophages and dendritic cells....
 , which is a critical protein that never changes regardless of strain.

Genetics

In humans, the lactoferrin gene (LTF) is located on chromosome 3; location: 3q21-q23.

Further reading


External links

  • Supported information about lactoferrin.
  • Lactoferrin Considered Safe to Fight E. Coli.
  • A biopharmaceutical company focused on developing protein-based drugs for cancer and diabetic ulcers.
  • A biopharmaceutical company producing lactoferrin.