Understanding Plasma Proteins and Their Roles

Understanding Plasma Proteins and Their Roles

Name three chief plasma proteins. Give the function of each.
Answer:

Plasma Proteins and their function:

1. Albumin 55%:

• It forms the major bulk of plasma proteins.
• It has molecular weight of 69,000.

Albumin Functions:

• It helps in transport of anions, cations, dyes, drugs, hormones, enzymes, fatty acids, amino acids and bilirubin.
• It controls colloidal osmotic pressure.
• It regulates the pH balance in the blood.
• It provides the maximum viscosity to the blood to maintain blood pressure.

2. Globulin-38%:

• It has high molecular weight of about 1,30,000.
• It has various types like alpha, beta and gamma globulin,

Globulin Function:

• Globulin accelerates the tendency of rouleaux formation which is responsible for ESR.
• Globulin help in the suspension stability of blood.
  1. Transferrin-α₂-ẞ globulin.
     • Regulates and controls iron absorption from GIT.
  2. Haptoglobulin – α₂ globulin.
     • Prevents urinary loss of iron.
     • Prevents kidney from damage caused by haemoglobin.
     • Regulates renal threshold for haemoglobin.
  3. Ceruloplasmin – α₂ – ẞ globulin.
     • Binds with copper and helps in its transport and storage.
  4. Gamma globulin.
     • Helps in defense mechanism of the body in the form of immunoglobulin.

3. Fibrinogen -7%:

• It has molecular weight of 3,50,000

Fibrinogen Functions:

• It helps in coagulation of blood.
• The chemical nature of clot is fibrin, which is formed from fibrinogen.
• It increases rouleaux formation of RBC which helps to determine ESR.
• It helps in suspension stability of the RBC.