(M) Lec 5: Amino Acids (P3: Other Proteins + Lab Measurements) Flashcards
Other Proteins of Importance
- Includes: Myoglobin, CK-MB, and Troponin
- For the diagnosis of myocardial infarctions (elevated)
Cardiac Markers
Other Proteins of Importance
- For cell adhesion, tissue differentiation, growth, wound healing, and nutrition (nutritional marker)
- Found in plasma and the cell surface (synthesized by liver hepatocytes, endothelial cells, peritoneal macrophages, and fibroblasts)
Fibronectin
Other Proteins of Importance (Fibronectin)
- A glycoprotein produced at the boundary between the amniotic sac and decidua
- Used to help predict the short term risk of premature delivery (increased levels)
- Normally detectable in amniotic fluid and placental tissue during early and normal pregnancy
- No longer detectable after 24 weeks
Fetal Fibronectin
Other Proteins of Importance
- Produced by the adipocytes
- Has an inverse correlation with body mass index
- Lower levels correlate with an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity
Adiponectin
Other Proteins of Importance
- aka Prostaglandin D Synthase
- Established as an accurate marker of CSF leakage (fluid in the nose)
- Potential marker in detecting impaired renal function (GFR)
- Promising marker in the diagnosis of perilymphatic fluid fistulas
B-Trace Protein
Other Proteins of Importance
- A biochemical marker of bone resorption detected in serum and urine
- Fragments of Collagen Type 1
- Useful for monitoring response to antiresorptive therapy (if still elevated, it means that the therapy is not effective)
- Bone turnover increases at menopause
- **Non-invasive **and can be repeated
- ECLIA is used (chemiluminescence)
Cross-Linked C-Telopeptides (CTX)
Other Proteins of Importance
- Produced and destroyed at a constant rate, making it a new marker for early assessment of changes in glomerular filtration rate
- Freely filtered by the glomerulus and almost completely reabsorbed and catabolized by the proximal tubular cells
- Not affected by muscle mass, gender, age or race unlike creatinine nor affected by most drugs, infections, diet, or inflammation
- Used as an alternative to creatinine and creatinine clearance to screen for and monitor kidney dysfunction
Cystatin C
Other Proteins of Importance
- Insoluble protein due to an altered secondary structure
- Characteristically stains with congo red
- The fibrils may infiltrate the heart, blood vessels, brain, peripheral nerves, kidneys, liver, spleen, and intestine causing wide spread organ failure
Amyloid
Other Proteins of Importance
Refers to conditions where amyloid proteins are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues
Amyloidosis
In measuring total protein, should the specimen be from a fasted patient or no?
Non-fasting (diet does not affect it)
Other Proteins of Importance
These amyloid proteins can be used to differentiate Alzheimer’s (increased) from other cases of dementia
(2 answers)
Amyloid B42 and Tau Proteins
Lab Measurements: Total Protein
- The standard reference method but it is not commonly performed in the lab because of its complexity
- It is time-consuming to perform
- It is an indirect method: it measures ammonium ions, not the protein itself (amount of proteins = amount of nitrogen and ammonia)
- Is divided into 3 major steps: Digestion, Distillation, and Titration/Nesslerization
Kjeldahl/Digestion Method
Lab Measurements: Kjeldahl/Digestion Method
Identify what step?
- Protein + Sulfuric Acid = Ammonium Sulfate
Digestion (Step 1)
Lab Measurements: Kjeldahl/Digestion Method
Identify what step?
- Ammonium Sulfate + Sodium Hydroxide = Ammonia and Sodium Sulfate
- Ammonia is distilled off and collected in a flask with boric acid
- Ammonia + Boric Acid = Ammonium Borate
Distillation (Step 2)
Lab Measurements: Kjeldahl/Digestion Method
Identify what step?
- A colorimetric method
- 1 gram of N = 6.54 grams of protein (conversion factor)
Titration/Nesslerization (for the first bullet)
Lab Measurements: Total Protein
Around how many percent of Nitrogen is contained in proteins?
15.1% - 16.8%
Lab Measurements: Total Protein
- There is color formation/color change
- Uses spectrophotometry to determine the absorbance
Colorimetric Method
Lab Measurements: Total Protein (Colorimetric)
- The most widely used and recommended by IFCC (Intl. Federation of CC)
- Is highly specific for proteins and peptides
- It directly measures protein concentrations in the sample
- Reagent is composed of alkaline copper sulfate (source of cupric ions), Tartrate salt (stabilizes cupric ions), and Potassium iodide (prevents autoreduction of cupric ions)
- pH is alkaline due to copper sulfate
- Hemoglobin and bilirubin can interfere with the results
Biuret Method