Transferrin From Human Serum, Alexa Fluor™ Conjugate

Fluorescent transferrin for receptor-mediated endocytosis and recycling

Fluorescent transferrin conjugates are widely used to study transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis, endosomal trafficking, and recycling using live-cell imaging or fixed-cell endpoint analysis. Transferrin binds transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) at the cell surface and is internalized through clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Following endosomal acidification and iron release, apo-transferrin remains bound to TfR1 and the complex recycles to the plasma membrane, where apo-transferrin dissociates.

Why use fluorescent transferrin for endocytosis studies?

• Track receptor-mediated endocytosis: Follow transferrin binding, TfR-mediated internalization, and intracellular trafficking.
• Monitor endocytic recycling: Use fluorescent transferrin as a well-established marker of the endosomal recycling pathway.
• Study trafficking kinetics: Follow uptake and recycling using live-cell imaging, pulse-chase experiments, or fixed-cell endpoint analysis.
• Assess endosomal trafficking: Investigate trafficking events associated with endosomal acidification, cargo sorting, and membrane transport.
• Compare trafficking pathways: Combine fluorescent transferrin with fluorescent LDL or other cargo markers to compare recycling and lysosomally directed pathways.
• Enable multiplex fluorescence imaging: Choose from fluorescein and Alexa Fluor™ 488, 546, 555, 568, 594, 633, and 647 conjugates for multicolor imaging workflows.

Fluorescent transferrin enables a direct fluorescence readout of a well-characterized endocytic pathway, making it a versatile probe for studying receptor internalization, endosomal trafficking, and recycling.

Choose a fluorescent transferrin conjugate for your imaging workflow

Select from fluorescein and Alexa Fluor™ 488, 546, 555, 568, 594, 633, and 647 transferrin conjugates, with fluorescence spanning green to far-red wavelengths.

Multiple fluorophore options

• Match your imaging system: Select a conjugate compatible with available excitation sources, emission filters, and detectors.
• Support multicolor imaging: Choose spectrally distinct labels for use with antibodies, organelle markers, and other fluorescent probes.
• Optimize experimental design: Select the excitation and emission profile that best fits your available fluorescence channels.
• Use one biological probe across workflows: Study transferrin receptor trafficking with fluorophore options suitable for a range of fluorescence microscopy applications.

Applications of fluorescent transferrin

Fluorescent transferrin is a well-established probe for studying transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis and intracellular trafficking.

Use fluorescent transferrin to:

• Visualize receptor-mediated internalization and recycling using live-cell imaging or fixed-cell endpoint analysis
• Track endosomal trafficking using fluorescence and confocal microscopy
• Study trafficking events associated with endosomal acidification and changes in endosomal function
• Investigate transferrin receptor dynamics, including appropriately designed FRET-based studies
• Measure transferrin receptor binding in mammalian and parasite model systems
• Compare recycling and lysosomal trafficking using complementary fluorescent cargo markers