Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026

Exploring Sequence Space to Identify Binding Sites for Regulatory RNA-Binding Proteins
Published on: August 9, 2019
A single rainbow trout cobalamin-binding protein stands in for three human binders
Eva Greibe1, Sergey Fedosov, Boe S Sorensen
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark. evagreibe@gmail.com
Researchers identified a single cobalamin-binding protein in rainbow trout. This protein shares characteristics with human haptocorrin, intrinsic factor, and transcobalamin, acting as an intermediate form.
Area of Science:
- Comparative biochemistry
- Zoology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Mammalian cobalamin (vitamin B12) transport involves haptocorrin, intrinsic factor, and transcobalamin.
- The specific cobalamin-binding proteins in lower vertebrates are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize cobalamin-binding proteins in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
- To compare these proteins with their human counterparts.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cobalamin-binding capacity in various trout tissues and fluids.
- Purified and sequenced the trout cobalamin-binding protein.
- Analyzed protein stability, binding affinity, and immunological properties.
- Compared conserved residues in the cobalamin-binding site.
Main Results:
- High cobalamin-binding capacity was observed in trout stomach, roe, roe fluid, and plasma.
- A single soluble cobalamin-binding protein was identified across these samples.
- The trout protein exhibited properties intermediate between human haptocorrin, intrinsic factor, and transcobalamin.
- It was glycosylated and showed spectral similarities to human binding proteins.
Conclusions:
- Rainbow trout possess a single soluble cobalamin-binding protein.
- This protein structurally and functionally resembles an intermediate form of the three human cobalamin-binding proteins.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Gene Families
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Cooperative Binding of Transcription Regulators
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
The Equilibrium Binding Constant and Binding Strength
Globular and Fibrous Proteins
Globular proteins are also known as spheroproteins and typically are approximately round in shape. They contain a mix of amino acid types and contain differing sequences in their primary structures. Globular proteins have many different functions, such as enzymes, cellular messengers, and molecular transporters. These roles often require the proteins to be...

