Melanotransferrin (MFI2)

Melanotransferrin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MFI2 gene. MFI2 has also recently been designated CD228 (cluster of differentiation 228).The protein encoded by this gene is a cell-surface glycoprotein found on melanoma cells. The protein shares sequence similarity and iron-binding properties with members of the transferrin superfamily. The importance of the iron binding function has not yet been identified. This gene resides in the same region of chromosome 3 as members of the transferrin superfamily. Alternative splicing results in two transcript variants. P97 is a 97,000 molecular weight cell-surface glycoprotein found in human melanomas. Amino acid sequence and iron-binding properties are similar to those of transferrin, lactotransferrin and ovotransferrin; together these constitute a superfamily.