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PubMed1985

Homology of beta-lactoglobulin, serum retinol-binding protein, and protein HC.

The milk protein beta-lactoglobulin has been extensively studied but its function has not been identified. A clue regarding the function of a protein can be obtained by discovering a genetic relationship with a protein of known function through comparisons of amino acid sequence. Such comparisons revealed that beta-lactoglobulin is similar to human serum retinol-binding protein and to another human protein of unknown function known as complex-forming glycoprotein heterogeneous in charge (protein HC). beta-Lactoglobulins from several species have been found to bind retinol, while the absorption and fluorescence properties reported for the unidentified heterogeneous prosthetic group of protein HC are retinoid-like. The role of serum retinol-binding protein in vitamin A transport in the circulation suggests that the other two homologous proteins may function in the binding and transport of retinoids; beta-lactoglobulin may facilitate the absorption of vitamin A from milk and protein HC may mediate the excretion of retinol-derived metabolites.

Alpha-Globulins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of myoglobin, creatine kinase-MB, and cardiac troponin I for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.

Serial plasma concentrations of myoglobin, creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) isoenzyme, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured in 25 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 74 patients who were suspected of AMI but were subsequently ruled out for this diagnosis. The cutoff concentration for the cTnI assay was optimally determined to be 2.5 ng/mL. Of the three markers, myoglobin had the highest clinical sensitivity (50 percent) when blood was collected between 0 to 6 h after the onset of chest pain. Assays for all serum markers used had high clinical sensitivity (> 93 percent) 6 to 24 h after onset. The CK-MB remained highly sensitive for 48 h, while cTnI was sensitive for up to 72 h. Between 72 and 150 h, cTnI had a clinical sensitivity of 70 percent as compared to 21 percent and 18 percent for myoglobin and CK-MB, respectively. The clinical specificity of cTnI for non-AMI patients was equivalent to CK-MB and significantly higher than for myoglobin. The clinical efficiency of cTnI for all samples was better than either CK-MB or myoglobin, owing mainly to the wider diagnostic window. The specificity of cTnI for 59 patients with chronic renal failure, skeletal muscle trauma and disease was better than all of these markers including cardiac troponin T (cTnT). Results of this study show that cTnI is an effective marker for the retrospective diagnosis of AMI, and consideration should be given to its use in place of CK-MB.

Biomarkers↗