Proteins and protein fractions

Urea (urea nitrogen) in the serum

Urea is the end product of protein metabolism in the body. It is removed from the body by glomerular filtration, 40-50% of it is reabsorbed by the tubular epithelium of the kidneys and is actively secreted by tubular cells.

Serum prealbumin

Prealbumin, or transthyretin, is a protein with a molecular weight of 54,980 and a half-life of 1–2 days; it is synthesized in the liver. One of the most important functions of prealbumin is the transport of T4 and triiodothyronine (T3).

Ceruloplasmin (copper-containing oxidase) in serum

Ceruloplasmin is a protein with a molecular weight of 150,000 daltons, containing 8 Cu1+ ions and 8 Cu2+ ions. The main copper-containing plasma protein is an alpha2-globulin; it accounts for 3% of the total copper in the body and over 95% of the copper in the blood serum.

Serum haptoglobin.

Haptoglobin (Hp) is a blood plasma glycoprotein that specifically binds hemoglobin. There are three hereditary phenotypes of haptoglobin: Hp 1-1, 2-1, 2-2. The first form is a monomer with a molecular weight of 85,000, the other two are polymers with varying but much greater weights.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin in the blood

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a glycoprotein synthesized by the liver and provides 90% of trypsin-inhibiting activity in the blood.

Acidic glycoprotein in the blood.

Acidic alpha1-glycoprotein (orosomucoid) is a blood plasma protein that is the richest in carbohydrates. The carbohydrate portion is represented by several polysaccharide chains attached to a polypeptide chain.

Albumin in the urine

Microalbuminuria testing is used to screen for kidney disease, particularly diabetic nephropathy, which significantly reduces costs and improves the prognosis of end-stage renal failure.

Protein fractions

To separate protein fractions, the electrophoresis method is usually used, based on the different mobility of serum proteins in an electric field.

Causes of high and low albumin

Both low and high albumin can signal problems in the body. The reasons for the increase and decrease of albumin are determined both by laboratory methods of blood sampling and by other diagnostic methods. Also, the reasons for the increase and decrease of albumin are determined by the doctor with careful collection of information, the history of the disease - anamnesis.

Blood albumin

Albumin in the blood is a very important protein component of human blood. The name comes from the Latin word - white (albus). It is a protein that dissolves well in salty and acidic environments, and the protein is practically pure, since it does not contain a milligram of carbohydrates.