Molecular mechanisms regulating the synthesis of transferrin receptors and ferritin in human erythroleukemic cell lines

The effects of either iron salts or iron chelators on the biosynthesis of transferrin receptors in human erythroleukemic lines was investigated. Addition of these compounds induced a rapid and marked decrease (iron salts) or increase (iron chelators) in the level of transferrin receptors synthesis. Both phenomena were inhibited by actinomycin D. In contrast, the increase in the synthesis of ferritin induced in these cells by addition of iron salts was not inhibited by actinomycin D. These results suggest that iron salts modulate the synthesis of transferrin receptors and ferritin via different molecular mechanisms, of transcriptional and translation type, respectively.