Description
Prealbumin (transthyretin) is a transport protein secreted in the liver, brain and retina.
Prealbumin transports thyroxin (T4) and retinol binding protein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Prealbumin (transthyretin) is a 55kDa homotetramer with a dimer of dimers quaternary structure. Transthyretin is reduced in inflammatory reactions and is therefore a negative acute phase protein. A mutation in the transthyretin gene can result in a chronically lowered transthyretin level in the blood, leading to amyloidosis. As transthyretin is the protein with the highest proportion of essential amino acids and has a biological half-life of 1?2 days, it can be used to help diagnose malnourishment and disturbances of the metabolic pathways in the liver.
