# HUMAN CELL SURFACE ANTIGENS: TRANSFERRIN RECEPTORS

> **NIH NIH R01** · SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES · 1990 · $184,326

## Abstract

The transferrin receptor mediates cellular iron uptake via the iron-binding
protein, transferrin, within the hematopoietic system and in other
tissues.  Monoclonal antibodies against the transferrin receptor can block
receptor function and inhibit cell growth.  The longterm objective of the
proposed work is to understand the structure-function relationship of the
transferrin receptor and its role in cell growth.  This knowledge will
contribute to related practical applications of monoclonal antibodies
against the transferrin receptor and growth-related receptors in cancer and
more effective methods of antibody-mediated drug targeting.  As a
continuation of previous structural and functional studies, it is proposed
to prepare monoclonal antibodies of predetermined specificity that react
with the human transferrin receptor to further define how antibodies block
receptor function.  Antibodies against the cytoplasmic domain of the
transferrin receptor will be obtained and used to purify the intracellular
membrane compartment enriched in transferrin receptors in order to learn
more about the molecular basis of receptor trafficking within cells.  As
complementary approaches to understanding transferrin receptor function, in
vitro mutagenesis will be used to modify the human transferrin receptor and
the structural and functional consequences of the mutations analyzed, and
efforts will be made to obtain sufficient amounts of transferrin receptor
either in a bacterial expression system or by overexpression in mammalian
cells to initiate X-ray crystallographic studies.  Collaborative studies
are proposed to characterize mutant mouse lymphoma cells resistant to
killing by anti-transferrin receptor antibodies and ricin A-antibody
conjugates and to investigate the regulation of transferrin receptor
expression during the growth and differentiation of HL-60 cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3172610
- **Project number:** 5R01CA034787-08
- **Recipient organization:** SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NNJ6BMBTFGN5
- **Principal Investigator:** IAN S TROWBRIDGE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $184,326
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-06-01 → 1991-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3172610

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3172610, HUMAN CELL SURFACE ANTIGENS: TRANSFERRIN RECEPTORS (5R01CA034787-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3172610. Licensed CC0.

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