Characteristics of chicken serum transferrin and immunological determination of its serum levels in dwarf chickens

Abstract

1. 1. The molecular mass of serum transferrin (Tf), purified from blood of immature Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens was 74,000 by both gel filtration and SDS-gel electrophoresis. 2. 2. The chicken serum Tf bound two iron atoms per molecule and iron-saturated Tf showed maximum absorbance at 465 nm. The Tf had one sialic acid residue per molecule. 3. 3. The amino acid composition of the Tf was similar to that of turtle serum Tf. 4. 4. Serum Tf levels in normal and dwarf RIR chickens gradually declined after hatch and then rose steadily with their sexual maturation, but no distinct differences between sexes or strains were noted.