Transferrin receptor of the rabbit reticulocyte

A Triton X-100 solubilized macromolecular complex of transferrin and a membrane constituent can be isolated by gel chromatography from rabbit reticulocytes previously incubated with 125I-labeled transferrin. The apparent molecular weight of this complex is close to that of ferritin, or about 445 000. On sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis the complex displays two glycoprotein subunits, of molecular weights 176 000 and 95 000 in addition to transferrin. A transferrin-binding fraction with a molecular weight near 400 000, containing these subunits, can also be identified in membranes of nonincubated reticulocytes. The corresponding membrane fraction from mature erythrocytes, which have lost transferrin-binding activity, displays both protein subunits, but the 176 000 molecular weight component fails to give a PAS stain for carbohydrate. Treatment of reticulocytes with Pronase, which destroys the ability of the cells to form specific complexes with transferrin, degrades both components. We believe these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the primary transferrin receptor of the rabbit reticulocyte is a glycoprotein of molecular weight in the range 350 000-400 000, comprised of a combination of two subunits with molecular weights 176 000 and 95 000, respectively. Transferrin-binding activity appears to depend on the carbohydrate moiety of the 176 000 subunit.