Biochemistry Flashcards
What process is used to separate proteins by size?
Electrophoresis
Functions of plasma proteins
Maintain osmotic pressure Transport of hydrophobic substances pH buffering Enzymatic (blood clotting) Immunity
What do alpha globulins do?
Transport lipoproteins, lipids, hormones and bilirubin
Transport vitamin A
Example of alpha globulin
Ceruloplasmim
Examples of beta globulins
Transferrin
Fibrinogen
What does transferrin do?
Transports Fe3+!
Indicates iron deficiency
What is fibrinogen and what does it do?
Inactive form of fibrin
Clots blood
What stimulates albumin production?
Insulin
What can cause low albumin levels?
Liver disease
Starvation/low protein diet
What molecules does albumin transport?
Fatty acids
Bilirubin
Thyroid hormones
Exogenous drugs like aspirin
What is iron bound to when it is stored in cells?
Ferritin
What is copper bound to to be transferred?
Ceruloplasmin
What disease can a deficiency of ceruloplasmin cause?
Wilson’s disease
What transports hormones in the circulation?
Globulins
What vitamins does the liver store?
Vitamins A, D & B12
What I’d cholesterol a precursor of?
Bile acids
Steroid hormones
Vitamin D
What does HMG-CoA reductase do?
Catalyses the irreversible formation of melatonin acid
Rate limiting enzyme targeted by statins
What are the 3 groups of steroid hormones?
Corticosteroids
Androgens
Oestrogens
Where are corticosteroids synthesised?
Adrenal cortex
Where are androgens synthesised?
Testis
Where are oestrogen a synthesised?
Ovaries
What are the products of cholesterol?
Vitamin D
Steroid hormones
Bile salts
What are the functions of the liver?
Nutrients and xenoniotica absorbed from the GI tract pass through before entering the systemic circulation
Bile production
Elimination of unwanted molecules
Secretion of plasma proteins (e.g, albumin)
Storage of important molecules
Regulation of metabolism
