A partially deficient and atypical equine transferrin variant, TF N

A new, partially deficient and phenotypically atypical transferrin variant, TF N, was detected in sera of a number of Finnhorses belonging to one family. The variant was inherited codominantly. In polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (pH 9.0) of sera, variant N appeared as a single weak band migrating slightly faster than the main anodal band of variant M. After immunoblotting or isolation an additional, still weaker, faster band was observed as well as some trace bands. The cathodal component, which is present in other transferrin variants, could not be convincingly proved. The main component of variant N contained four sialic acid residues.