Albumin
Albumin (ALB) is the most abundant protein in human blood, a secreted carrier that regulates the colloid osmotic pressure of plasma. It transports hormones, fatty acids, metabolites, metal ions and drugs, and belongs to the ALB/AFP/VDB family. Browse Assay Genie's current range of Albumin research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Albumin is a secreted plasma protein whose main function is the regulation of the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood. It is also a broad-specificity carrier. It binds water, Ca(2+), Na(+), K(+), fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin and drugs, and the NCBI Gene summary notes that it carries a wide range of endogenous molecules, metabolites and exogenous drugs. It additionally shows an esterase-like activity with broad substrate specificity.
Albumin is the major zinc transporter in plasma and typically binds about 80% of all plasma zinc. It is also a major calcium and magnesium transporter, binding approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium. The rank order of affinity is zinc, then calcium, then magnesium. Albumin may have more than two calcium-binding sites and might also bind calcium non-specifically. Zinc and calcium share a binding site at residue Asp-273, which suggests crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood. Albumin also binds the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake by E. coli from ferric transferrin. It may thereby limit iron use and growth of enteric bacteria. It does not prevent iron uptake via the siderophore aerobactin.
The ALB gene encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to the mature protein. HGNC places it in the albuminoid family, and the mouse and rat orthologs are both named Alb. A peptide derived from albumin, EPI-X4, is an endogenous inhibitor of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor. This links the abundant carrier protein to chemokine receptor signalling.
Albumin regulates the colloid osmotic pressure of blood plasma, making it a central protein in studies of fluid balance and plasma composition.
As a carrier of hormones, fatty acids, metabolites and exogenous drugs, albumin is relevant to research on transport and ligand binding in blood.
Albumin binds most plasma zinc and a large share of circulating calcium and magnesium, so it features in work on metal homeostasis.
Albumin binds enterobactin and inhibits E. coli iron uptake from ferric transferrin, which is of interest in studies of iron limitation and enteric bacteria.
Albumin regulates the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood and carries water, ions, fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin, metabolites and drugs. It is the major plasma transporter of zinc, and it also carries calcium and magnesium. It also shows esterase-like activity with broad substrate specificity.
ALB is the gene symbol for albumin. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to the mature protein. EPI-X4 is a peptide derived from albumin that acts as an endogenous inhibitor of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor. No alternative gene aliases are listed by HGNC.
Yes. Both mouse and rat have an ortholog named Alb. Albumin belongs to the ALB/AFP/VDB family, and HGNC groups the human gene in the albuminoid family. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ALB/AFP/VDB family members, plasma carrier proteins and the CXCR4 receptor linked to the albumin-derived peptide EPI-X4.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P02768; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.