title: Transferrin as a model system for method development to study structure, dynamics and interactions of metalloproteins using mass spectrometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transferrin (Tf) is a paradigmatic metalloprotein, which has been extensively studied in the past and still is a focal point of numerous investigation efforts owing to its unique role in iron homeostasis and enormous promise as a component of a wide range of therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) is a potent analytical tool that has been used successfully to study various properties of Tf and Tf-based products, ranging from covalent structure and metal binding to conformation and interaction with their physiological partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various ESI MS-based techniques produce unique information on Tf properties and behavior that is highly complementary to information provided by other experimental techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experimental ESI MS-based techniques developed for Tf studies are not only useful for understanding of fundamental aspects of the iron-binding properties of this protein and optimizing Tf-based therapeutic products, but can also be applied to study a range of other metalloproteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Transferrins: Molecular mechanisms of iron transport and disorders.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA. Kaltashov@chem.umass.edu
authors: Igor A
authors: IA
authors: Kaltashov
authors: Cedric E
authors: CE
authors: Bobst
authors: Mingxuan
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Rachael
authors: R
authors: Leverence
authors: Dmitry R
authors: DR
authors: Gumerov
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008667:Metalloproteins; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron