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12. Describe the major plasma proteins and the other non-electrolytic constituents of blood and explain their function in the body: Difference between revisions

12. Describe the major plasma proteins and the other non-electrolytic constituents of blood and explain their function in the body (view source)

Revision as of 20:19, 13 December 2022

86 bytes added ,  13 December 2022
→‎Serum protein electrophoresis
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(Created page with "== Plasma == The plasma is the cell-free part of blood. The plasma accounts for only 55% of the total blood volume, approximately 3000 mL. It’s a pale, yellow, sticky liquid. It’s 90% water and contains: * Inorganic components ** Ions, like Na+, K+, Cl–, Ca2+, bicarbonate (HCO3–) ** Gases like O2 and CO2 * Organic components ** Proteins *** Albumin *** Globulins *** Fibrinogen ** Lipids ** Carbohydrates *** Glucose ** Amino acids ** Nitrogen compounds *** Urea *...")
 
 
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It works by putting a sample of serum on a gel. An electric current is applied across the slide. Most proteins have a negative charge and will therefore move slowly through the gel towards the positively charged anode. The smaller and more negatively charged the protein is the further it will travel through the gel.
It works by putting a sample of serum on a gel. An electric current is applied across the slide. Most proteins have a negative charge and will therefore move slowly through the gel towards the positively charged anode. The smaller and more negatively charged the protein is the further it will travel through the gel.
 
[[File:Serum protein electrophoresis.png|thumb|A normal serum protein electrophoresis]]
The result of a normal serum protein electrophoresis looks like this:
 
The “point of application” shows where the serum sample was put before the current was turned on. As you can see albumin travelled the farthest, toward the positive anode. The gamma globulins travelled the least and remained close to the point of application. We call each of the “shapes” a ''fraction''. So, there are five fractions.
The “point of application” shows where the serum sample was put before the current was turned on. As you can see albumin travelled the farthest, toward the positive anode. The gamma globulins travelled the least and remained close to the point of application. We call each of the “shapes” a ''fraction''. So, there are five fractions.


The size of the fraction on the upper picture, and the size of the peaks on the lower picture both show how much of each fraction there was in the sample. It’s obvious that the most abundant protein in the serum is albumin. The second most abundant are the gamma globulins.
The size of the fraction on the upper picture, and the size of the peaks on the lower picture both show how much of each fraction there was in the sample. It’s obvious that the most abundant protein in the serum is albumin. The second most abundant are the gamma globulins.
 
[[File:Multiple myeloma serum protein electrophoresis.gif|thumb|''Serum protein electrophoresis in multiple myeloma.'']]
''Serum protein electrophoresis in multiple myeloma.''
The picture on the side shows the serum protein electrophoresis of a patient with a disease called ''multiple myeloma''. It is a cancer where cells which produce immunoglobulins proliferate uncontrolledly. These cancer cells produce extreme amounts of immunoglobulins. This is reflected on the picture above, which shows that the serum of this patient contains as many immunoglobulins as albumin.
 
The above picture shows the serum protein electrophoresis of a patient with a disease called ''multiple myeloma''. It is a cancer where cells which produce immunoglobulins proliferate uncontrolledly. These cancer cells produce extreme amounts of immunoglobulins. This is reflected on the picture above, which shows that the serum of this patient contains as many immunoglobulins as albumin.


''It’s not important to know about multiple myeloma but it illustrates how serum protein electrophoresis shows the amount of different proteins in the serum''.
''It’s not important to know about multiple myeloma but it illustrates how serum protein electrophoresis shows the amount of different proteins in the serum''.