Lactoferrin

BeschreibungLactoferrin, a granule-associated glycoprotein, is a cationic protein with a high proportion of arginine and lysine at the N-terminal region, with two glycosylation and several iron-binding sites. Lactoferrin is highly antibacterial against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at concentrations ranging from 3 to 50 μg/ml. It is believed that these lethal effects are due to a direct interaction of lactoferrin with the cell surface and subsequent disruption of normal permeability functions of the membrane, a so-called dissipation of proton motive force action (23). Similarly, expression of an antimicrobial tachyplesin gene from Asian horseshoe crabs led to antibacterial activity against Erwinia spp. in transgenic potato (24).

VerwendenLactoferrin was used in the fractionation of lactoperoxidase and lactoferrin from bovine whey using a cation exchange membrane. It was used in the determination of lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G in animal milks by new immunosensors.