PREPARATION OF APOLACTOFERRIN WITH A VERY-LOW IRON SATURATION

Iron(III) removal from lactoferrin by an iron(III)-chelating resin wit h immobilized 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinone ligands was studied at physiological pH in the presence of citrate. The resin had a marked effect on the extent of iron removal. By using the iron(III)-chelatin g resin, removal of iron from lactoferrin was nearly complete in <24 h . Apolactoferrin with 4% iron saturation could be prepared convenientl y from 100% or from 18% iron-saturated lactoferrin under mild conditio ns without affecting the iron-binding capacity of the protein. The iro n saturation of the obtained apolactoferrin was much lower than that o f the apolactoferrin prepared by reported methods.