Random distribution of iron among the two binding sites of transferrin in patients with various hematologic disorders.

The distribution of iron among the two binding sites of transferrin was studied by isoelectric focusing in 41 patients with a variety of disorders of iron metabolism and erythropoiesis. The proportion of diferric and the two monoferric transferrins were very close to the values predicted from the transferring saturation. It is concluded that iron distribution on transferrin is random or close to random within the experimental error in patients with a variety of clinical disorders.