The cross-linking of 125I-labelled transferrin to rabbit reticulocytes

125I-labelled transferrin has been covalently linked to proteins of rabbit reticulocyte membranes using three different cross-linking reagents: (a) bis(methyl) suberimidate (b) 4-methyl mercaptobutirimidate and (c) Cu-o-phenanthroline. Analysis of the products of the cross-linking reactions by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed three radioactively labelled components. The major component corresponds to non-cross-linked transferrin while a second smaller component represents a complex (125 000 daltons) of membrane protein and transferrin. A third component (210 000 daltons) was observed when 4-methyl mercaptobutirimidate was used as a cross-linking reagent. The possibility that the two higher molecular weight complexes contain the receptor protein for transferrin is discussed.