Transferrin receptor

Transferrin receptor (TfR) is a carrier protein for transferrin. It's needed for the import of iron into the cell and it's regulated in response to intracellular iron concentration.

TfR production in the cell is regulated according to iron levels by iron response/regulatory element binding protein (IRE-BP). This protein binds to the hairpin like structure (IRE) that is in the 3' UTR of the TfR receptor. Once binding occurs, degradation of mRNA of IRE is inhibited.