Structural Features and Properties of Transferrins: A Review

The currently available information on the properties of proteins of the transferrin family—multifunctional cationic proteins involved in various enzymatic, immune, and regulatory processes in the bodies of mammals and humans—is reviewed. The literature on the physiological role, structure, mechanism of metal ion binding, antibacterial properties, and the prospects for the practical use of transferrins and oligopeptide derivatives is summarized.