Plasma membrane crypt cells

In the bloodstream, ferric iron binds tightly to circulating plasma transferrin (TF) to form diferric transferrin (FeTF). Absorption of iron into erythrocytes depends on basolateral membrane receptor-mediated endocytosis of FeTF by transferrin receptor 1 (TfR 1). FeTF binds to TfR 1 on the surface of erythroid precursors. These complexes invaginate in pits on the cell surface to form endosomes. Proton pumps within the endosomes lower pH to promote the release of iron into the cytoplasm from transferrin. Once the cycle is completed,TF and TfR 1 are recycled back to the cell surface. TF and TfR 1 play similar roles in iron absorption at the basolateral membrane of crypt enterocytes (Parkilla et al., 2001 Pietrangelo, 2002). 

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