Polymorphism in the Red Protein isolated from Milk of Individual Cows

Abstract

GENETICALLY determined polymorphism of human and other primate transferring, the iron-binding proteins in blood, has been established by starch-gel electrophoresis^1,2. The transferrin in cattle differs from that in humans since cattle homozygous for an allele have been shown to contain more than one transferrin^3,4. The red protein, also called lactotransferrin, is an iron-binding protein found in cow's milk and has now been found to be polymorphous by gel electrophoresis. Although serum transferrin resembles the red protein in size, absorption spectra, and amount of iron bound per mole of protein, it differs in electrophoretic mobility and amino-acid content^5,6.