Binding and endocytosis of monoterbium transferrin by K562 cells

Using isotopic labeling of human serum apotransferrin, the binding and the endocytosis of monoterbium transferrin (TbC-apotransferrin, TbC-apotransferrin- FeN) by K562 cells, a human leukemic cell line, have been investigated. There are about (8.58±2.41)×105 binding sites per cell surface at 0℃. The association constant for TbC-apo- transferrin binding is 4.1×107 mol-1@L, for TbC-apo- transferrin-FeN 2.7×107 mol-1@L at 0℃. At pH 7.4, upon warming cells to 37℃, endocytosis starts. The rate constants for the endocytosis are about 0.97 min-1 and 0.31 min-1 and the endocytosis ratio reaches 56% and 80% for TbC-apo- transferrin and TbC-apotransferrin-FeN, respectively.