Blood proteins
Blood proteins, also termed plasma proteins or serum proteins, are proteins present in blood plasma. They serve many different functions, including transport of lipids, hormones, vitamins and minerals in the circulatory system and the regulation of acellular activity and functioning of the immune system. Other blood proteins act as enzymes, complement components, protease inhibitors or kinin precursors. Contrary to popular belief, hemoglobin is not a blood protein, as it is carried within red blood cells, rather than in the blood serum.
Serum albumin accounts for 55% of blood proteins, and is a major contributor to maintaining the osmotic pressure of plasma to assist in the transport of lipids and steroid hormones. Globulins make up 38% of blood proteins and transport ions, hormones, and lipids assisting in immune function. Fibrinogen comprises 7% of blood proteins; conversion of fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin is essential for blood clotting. The remainder of the plasma proteins (1%) are regulatory proteins, such as enzymes, proenzymes, and hormones. All blood proteins are synthesized in liver except for the gamma globulins.
Separating serum proteins by electrophoresis is a valuable diagnostic tool as well as a way to monitor clinical progress. Current research regarding blood plasma proteins is centered on performing proteomics analyses of serum/plasma in the search for biomarkers. These efforts started with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis[1] efforts in the 1970s and in more recent times this research has been performed using LC-tandem MS[2][3] based proteomics. The normal laboratory value of serum total protein is around 7 g/dL.
Families of blood proteins:
| Blood protein | Normal level | % | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albumins | 3.5-5.0 g/dl | 55% | maintain colloid osmotic pressure; create oncotic pressure and transport insoluble molecules |
| Globulins | 2.0-2.5 g/dl | 38% | participate in immune system |
| Fibrinogen | 0.2-0.45 g/dl | 7% | Blood coagulation |
| Regulatory proteins | <1% | Regulation of gene expression | |
| Clotting factors | <1% | Conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin |
Examples of specific blood proteins:
- Prealbumin (transthyretin)
- Alpha 1 antitrypsin (neutralizes trypsin that has leaked from the digestive system)
- Alpha 1 acid glycoprotein
- Alpha 1 fetoprotein
- alpha2-macroglobulin
- Gamma globulins
- Beta-2 microglobulin
- Haptoglobin
- Ceruloplasmin
- Complement component 3
- Complement component 4
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Lipoproteins (chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL, HDL)
- Transferrin
- Prothrombin
- MBL or MBP
Notes
- ↑ Anderson NL, Anderson NG (1977). "High Resolution Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis of Human Plasma Proteins". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 74 (12): 5421–5425. doi:10.1073/pnas.74.12.5421. PMC 431746
. PMID 271964. - ↑ Adkins JN; et al. (2002). "Toward a human blood serum proteome: analysis by multidimensional separation coupled with mass spectrometry". Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. 1 (12): 947–955. doi:10.1074/mcp.M200066-MCP200. PMID 12543931.
- ↑ Jacobs JM; et al. (2005). "Utilizing human blood plasma for proteomic biomarker discovery". Journal of Proteome Research. 4 (4): 1073–1085. doi:10.1021/pr0500657. PMID 16083256.
References
- Clinical Chemistry : a laboratory perspective / [edited by] Wendy Arneson, Jean Brickell.