Understanding:
• Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in hepatocytes produce plasma proteins
Plasma proteins are proteins present in the blood plasma and are produced by the liver (except for immunoglobulins)
- The proteins are produced by the rough ER in hepatocytes and exported into the blood via the Golgi complex
There are a number of different types of plasma proteins, each serving different specific functions:
- Albumins regulate the osmotic pressure of the blood (and hence moderate the osmotic pressure of body fluids)
- Globulins participate in the immune system (i.e. immunoglobulins) and also act as transport proteins
- Fibrinogens are involved in the clotting process (soluble fibrinogen can form an insoluble fibrin clot)
- Low levels of other plasma proteins have various functions (e.g. α-1-antitrypsin neutralises digestive trypsin)
Overview of Plasma Proteins
