1. Plasma Proteins Prof Dr Kwan Teck Kim Department of Biochemistry
Faculty of Medicine
Mahsa University College

2. Learning outcomes
On completion of this topic, the student will be able to:
Explain the basis of classification of plasma proteins
Name the major types of plasma proteins
Discuss the major roles of plasma proteins

3. Contents
Plasma proteins
Electrophoresis
Albumin, functions, clinical significance
Hypo-albuminemia
Globulins, alpha, beta, gamma
Transport proteins in blood
Acute phase proteins in blood
Ceruloplasmin
Alpha-1 anti-trypsin
Clotting factors

4. Protein molecules in blood

5. Electrophoresis Employed for separation of serum proteins
Movement of charged particles through an electrolyte when subjected to an electric field
Positively charged particles (cations) move to cathode
Negatively charged particles (anions) move to anode
At pH 8.6 (barbitone buffer), serum proteins will have net negative charge and migrate towards anode.

6. Electrophoresis (contd)
In agar gel electrophoresis, normal serum is separated into 5 bands:
Albumin : %
Alpha-1 globulin : 2-4%
Alpha-2 globulin : 6-12%
Beta-globulin : 8-12%
Gamma-globulin : %
Albumin has the maximum and gamma globulin has the minimum mobility in the electrical field.
γ- globulins contain the antibodies (immunoglobulins),
Most of α-1 fraction is made up of α-1-antitrypsin;
α-2 band is mainly made up by α-2-macroglobulin.
β-fraction contains low density lipoproteins.

8. Cathode
Anode

11. Electrophoretogram

14. Functions of Albumin
1. Colloid Osmotic Pressure of Plasma
Proteins cannot easily escape out of blood vessels, & therefore, proteins exert the ‘effective osmotic pressure’. It is about 25 mm Hg, & 80% of it is contributed by albumin.
According to Starling’s hypothesis, at the capillary end the BP or hydrostatic pressure expels water out, & effective osmotic pressure (EOP) takes water into the vascular compartment.
At the arterial end of capillary, BP is 35 mm Hg & EOP 25 mm; thus water is expelled by a pressure of 10mm Hg.
At the venous end of capillary, EOP is 25 mm and BP is 15 mm, water is imbibed with a pressure of 10 mm.

15. Albumin (contd 1)
If protein concn in serum is reduced, the EOP is correspondingly decreased. Then return of water into blood vessels is diminished, leading to accumulation of water in tissues (edema).
2. Transport Function
Bilirubin & non-esterified fatty acids are specifically transported by albumin.
Drugs (supha, aspirin, salicylates, dicoumarol, pheytoin)
Hormones (Steroid hormones, thyroxine)
Metals (Ca, Cu) and heavy metals are nonspecifically carried by albumin.

16. Albumin (contd 2)
3. Nutritional Function All tissue cells can take up albumin by pinocytosis. It is then broken down to amino acid level. So, albumin may be considered as the transport form of essential amino acids from liver to other tissues.

19. Total blood volume is ~ 4.5 – 5 litres
Plasma Proteins
Total blood volume is ~ 4.5 – 5 litres
Defibrinated plasma is called serum
Total protein of normal plasma, 6-8 g/100 ml
Consists of g/dl albumin; g/dl globulins and mg/dl fibrinogen

20. Plasma proteins (contd)
The albumin : globulin ratio, 1.2 : 1 to 1.5 : 1
Hypo-albuminemia is seen in cirrhosis, chronic liver failure, malnutrition, malabsorption diseases, nephrotic syndrome, burns
All (except immunoglobulins) are synthesized in liver; mostly glycoproteins

21. Abnormal Patterns in Clinical Diseases
1. Chronic infections: The γ globulins are increased, but increase is smooth and wide-based 2. Multiple myeloma: In para-proteinemias, a sharp spike termed M-Band. 3. Nephrotic syndrome: All proteins except very big molecules are lost through urine. Alpha-2 fraction (containing macroglobulin) is very prominent

22. α 2 –globulin (ceruloplasmin) involved in transport of copper
Functions of Plasma Proteins
1. Albumin: chief stabiliser of blood volume and helps in transport of drugs, bilirubin, free fatty acids, calcium, hormones & metals
serves as a source amino acids for tissue protein synthesis
helps in maintaining colloidal osmotic pressure; buffering capacity (see earlier slides no )
2. Gobulins:
α 1 –globulin (retinol binding protein) involved in transport of vitamin A
α 2 –globulin (ceruloplasmin) involved in transport of copper

23. β-globulin (transferrin) an iron transport protein
γ-globulins (antibodies) confer immunity against infectious diseases
Fibrinogen: Participates in blood coagulation

24. Acute phase proteins
1. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) β-globulin, kD, stimulates complement activity & macrophage phagocytosis has a positive correlation in predicting the risk of coronary artery diseases 2. Ceruloplasmin α2-globulin, 160 kD; 6-8 copper atoms per molecule; also called Ferroxidase which helps in incorporation of Fe into transferrin. An important anti-oxidant in plasma

25. 2. Ceruloplasmin (contd)
90% Cu in plasma is bound to ceruloplasmin
10% Cu bound with albumin loosely
Lower level of ceruloplasmin in Wilson’s disease, malnutrition, nephrosis, cirrhosis
Increased level in active hepatitis, biliary cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, obstructive biliary disease

26. 3. Alpha-1 Anti-trypsin (AAT)
Also called Alpha-anti-proteinase or protease inhibitor
It inhibits all serine proteases (proteolytic enzymes having a serine at their active centre), such as plasmin, thrombin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, cathepsin.
Serine protease inhibitors (Serpins)
AAT is synthesized in liver. A glycoprotein, 50 kD.
Normal serum level mg/dl
AAT deficiency causes Emphysema and Nephrotic syndrome.

27. 3. Alpha-1 Anti-trypsin (AAT) [contd]
Emphysema:
AAT deficiency 1 in 1000
Bacterial infections in lung attract macrophages which release elastase.
In AAT deficiency, unopposed action of elastase causes damage to lung tissue, leading to emphysema.
About 5% of emphysema cases are due to AAT deficiency
Nephrotic syndrome:
AAT molecules are lost in urine
Hence, AAT deficiency is produced
Emphysema:
AAT deficiency 1 in 1000
Bacterial infections in lung attract macrophages which release elastase.
In AAT deficiency, unopposed action of elastase causes damage to lung tissue, leading to emphysema.
About 5% of emphysema cases are due to AAT deficiency
Nephrotic syndrome:
AAT molecules are lost in urine
Hence, AAT deficiency is produced

28. 4. Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (AMG)
AMG, tetrameric protein, 725 kD
Major component of α 2 –globulins
Synthesized by hepatocytes and macrophages
Inactivates all proteases
Important in vivo anti-coagulant
Carrier of many growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor (PDGF).
Normal serum level is mg/dl
Its concentration is markedly increased (up to 2-3 g/dl) in Nephrotic syndrome

29. Clotting Factors Single chain zymogen, 69 kD
1. Prothrombin
Single chain zymogen, 69 kD
Plasma concentration mg/dl
Prothrombin → thrombin by Factor Xa, by removal of N-terminal fragment
2. Thrombin
Serine protease, 34 kD
The Ca2+ binding of prothrombin is essential for anchoring prothrombin on surface of platelets.
When terminal fragment is cleaved off, Ca2+ binding sites are removed.
So, thrombin is released from platelet surface.

30. Clotting Factors (contd)
3. Fibrinogen
An acute phase protein
Synthesized by liver, 340 kD
Normal fibrinogen level in blood, mg/dl
Fibrinogen → fibrin by cleaving Arg-Gly peptide bonds of fibrinogen
Fibrin monomers formed are insoluble
They align themselves lengthwise, aggregate and precipitate to form the clot

31. References
Devlin T.M. [Ed.] (2006), Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations, 6th Ed., Wiley-Liss, Inc, N.Y.
Vasudeven, D.M., Sreekumari, S. & Vaidyanathan, K. (2011). Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students , 6th Ed., Jaypee Brothrs Medical Publishers Ltd, New Delhi.
Murray, R.K. et al. (2009) Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry, 28th Ed., Mc Graw Hill Medical, N.Y.