The number of investigators focusing their attention on lactoferrin has increased dramatically in recent years. Lactoferrin is a protein with more than one known structure and a number of proposed biological functions, including several with important regulatory consequences. In many ways it has been an easy pro tein to investigate; however, there have been difficulties under standing specific structure / function relationships, particularly as it functions in vivo. Research funding dedicated to this protein has previously been limited, but is now increasing. As lactoferrin begins to emerge formally as a protein of significance to the medi and industry, it is more important than ever to coor cal profession dinate and integrate research efforts whenever possible and to share the results of these efforts within the expanding array of medical and scientific diSciplines involved. It was our intention to provide a forum to summarize and disseminate the most recent advances in this field. Included in Lactoferrin: Interactions and Biological Functions are selected presentations representing the many disciplines involved in defining lactoferrin function in terms of its known structural features, including its carbohydrate side-chains, receptor binding sites, its capacity to bind different metal ions, and other newly discovered bioactive domains. Several of the possible physiologi cal functions of lactoferrin are described and summarized in detail, including the role of laetoferrin in bacterial killing, its in volvement in cell growth and proliferation, in the modulation of immune function, and in iron absorption."

Three-Dimensional Structure of Lactoferrin in Various Functional States.- Characterization of Two Kinds of Lactotransferrin (Lactoferrin) Receptors on Different Target Cells.- Primary and Three-Dimensional Structure of Lactotransferrin (Lactoferrin) Glycans.- Synergism and Substitution in the Lactoferrins.- Salt Effects on the Physical Properties of the Transferrins.- Interaction of Lactoferrin with Sequestered Transition Metal Ions.- Bactericidal Activity of Different Forms of Lactoferrin.- The Effects of Lactoferrin on Gram-Negative Bacteria.- Faecal Flora in the Newborn: Effect of Lactoferrin and Related Nutrients.- The Monocytic Receptor for Lactoferrin and Its Involvement in Lactoferrin-Mediated Iron Transport.- Study on the Binding of Lactotransferrin (Lactoferrin) to Human PHA-Activated Lymphocytes and Non-Activated Platelets: Localisation and Description of the Receptor-Binding Site.- Physical Characteristics and Polymerization during Iron Saturation of Lactoferrin, a Myelopoietic Regulatory Molecule with Suppressor Activity.- Lactoferrin and the Inflammatory Response.- The Role of Lactoferrin as an Anti-inflammatory Molecule.- Interaction of Lactoferrin with Mononuclear and Colon Carcinoma Cells.- Lactoferrin Receptors in Intestinal Brush Border Membranes.- Maternal Lactoferrin in the Urine of Preterm Infants: Evidence for Retention of Structure and function.- Lactoferrin Gene Promoter in Human and Mouse: Analogous and Dissimilar Characteristics.- Lactoferrin cDNA: Expression and In Vitro Mutagenesis.- Antimicrobial Peptides of Lactoferrin.- Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Lactoferrin and Its Hydrolysate Produced by Heat Treatment at Acidic pH.- A Comparison of the Three-Dimensional Structures of Human Lactoferrin in Its Iron Free and Iron Saturated Forms.- Bovine Lactoferrin: Isolation and Characterisation of Genomic Regulatory Sequences.- X-Ray Structural Analysis of Bovine Lactoferrin at 2.5 A Resolution.- Binding of Porcine Milk Lactoferrin to Piglet Intestinal Lactoferrin Receptor.- Lactoferrin-Receptor Interaction: Effect of Surface Exposed Histidine Residues.- Kinetic Parameters for the Heat Denaturation of Bovine Lactoferrin in Milk, and Its Effect on Interaction with Monocytes.- Cloning and Expression of the C-Terminal Lobe of Human Lactoferrin.- Crystallographic Studies on Metal and Anion Substituted Human Lactoferrin.- Proposed Mechanisms for the Involvement of Lactoferrin in the Hydrolysis of Nucleic Acids.- Lactoferrin Promotes Nerve Growth Factor Synthesis/Secretion in Mouse Fibroblast L-M Cells.- Summary Chapter: Lactoferrin Structure and Function: Remaining Questions, Methodological Considerations and Future Directions.

The number of investigators focusing their attention on lactoferrin has increased dramatically in recent years. Lactoferrin is a protein with more than one known structure and a number of proposed biological functions, including several with important regulatory consequences. In many ways it has been an easy pro tein to investigate; however, there have been difficulties under standing specific structure / function relationships, particularly as it functions in vivo. Research funding dedicated to this protein has previously been limited, but is now increasing. As lactoferrin begins to emerge formally as a protein of significance to the medi and industry, it is more important than ever to coor cal profession dinate and integrate research efforts whenever possible and to share the results of these efforts within the expanding array of medical and scientific diSciplines involved. It was our intention to provide a forum to summarize and disseminate the most recent advances in this field. Included in Lactoferrin: Interactions and Biological Functions are selected presentations representing the many disciplines involved in defining lactoferrin function in terms of its known structural features, including its carbohydrate side-chains, receptor binding sites, its capacity to bind different metal ions, and other newly discovered bioactive domains. Several of the possible physiologi cal functions of lactoferrin are described and summarized in detail, including the role of laetoferrin in bacterial killing, its in volvement in cell growth and proliferation, in the modulation of immune function, and in iron absorption."