Mediates cellular uptake of transferrin-bound iron in a non-iron dependent manner. May be involved in iron metabolism, hepatocyte function and erythrocyte differentiation.

Predominantly expressed in liver. While the alpha form is also expressed in spleen, lung, muscle, prostate and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the beta form is expressed in all tissues tested, albeit weakly.

Defects in TFR2 are a cause of hemochromatosis type 3 (HFE3) [MIM:604250]. HFE3 is a disorder of iron hemostasis resulting in iron overload and has a phenotype indistinguishable from that of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). HH is characterized by abnormal intestinal iron absorption and progressive increase of total body iron, which results in midlife in clinical complications including cirrhosis, cardiopathy, diabetes, endocrine dysfunctions, arthropathy, and susceptibility to liver cancer. Since the disease complications can be effectively prevented by regular phlebotomies, early diagnosis is most important to provide a normal life expectancy to the affected subjects.

Belongs to the peptidase M28 family. M28B subfamily.

Cell membrane and Cytoplasm. Lacks the transmembrane domain. Probably intracellular.