Effect of adenine nucleotides and pyrophosphate on the exchange of transferrin-bound carbonate.

1. ATP, ADP and pyrophosphate accelerate the exchange of carbonate of the transferrin-iron-carbonate ternary complex, while AMP, cyclic AMP and phosphate have no effect. 2. ATP promotes carbonate exchange without removing iron from transferrin, whereas pyrophosphate effectiely attacks both the anion and iron components of the ternary complex. 3. Transferrin readily takes over iron from its ATP or pyrophosphate complex. 4. Neither ATP nor pyrophosphate can substitute for carbonate of the ternary complex. These results fit in well with the concept that ATP may play a direct role in the iron uptake by reticulocytes.