Crystal structures of two mutants (K206Q, H207E) of the N‐lobe of human transferrin with increased affinity for iron

Abstract
The X‐ray crystallographic structures of two mutants (K206Q and H207E) of the N‐lobe of human transferrin (hTF/2N) have been determined to high resolution (1.8 and 2.0 Å, respectively). Both mutant proteins bind iron with greater affinity than native hTF/2N. The structures of the K206Q and H207E mutants show interactions (both H‐bonding and electrostatic) that stabilize the interaction of Lys296 in the closed conformation, thereby stabilizing the iron bound forms.