title: Iron(III) binding proteins of echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).
abstract: Iron (III) binding proteins are isolated from echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus multiaculeatus) and platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) milk and blood. On the basis of several criteria it is shown that the milk proteins are not lactoferrins, but are transferrins similar to the corresponding transferrins from the blood. The heterogeneity of the proteins, particularly the echidna milk transferrin, is, at least in part, due to different levels of sialic acid. Their N-terminal sequences (30 residues) are determined and compared with those of other transferrins and lactoferrins. The role of the proteins is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Protein Chemistry Group, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Teahan
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: McKenzie
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004586:Electrophoresis; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D010987:Platypus / Q000378:metabolism*; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D004442:Tachyglossidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D012794:Sialic Acids; D014168:Transferrin; D009439:Neuraminidase; D007781:Lactoferrin; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid