Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
10:05
Hydrogel Nanoparticle Harvesting of Plasma or Urine for Detecting Low Abundance Proteins
Published on: August 7, 2014
Evidence that glycocalicin circulates in normal plasma
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|March 1, 1984
Summary
Researchers developed a new assay to measure glycocalicin, a protein fragment found in plasma. Plasma glycocalicin levels appear to reflect platelet count and destruction rates, offering insights into platelet disorders.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Glycoprotein Ib (GPIb)/glycocalicin is a major component of platelet surface receptors.
- Understanding the presence and levels of glycocalicin in plasma is crucial for diagnosing platelet-related disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a sensitive and specific assay to distinguish and quantify glycocalicin in plasma.
- To investigate the relationship between plasma glycocalicin levels and various thrombocytopenic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Development of a radioimmunoelectrophoretic assay using heterologous antiserum and radiolabeled monoclonal antibody against GPIb/glycocalicin.
- Utilized gel and affinity chromatography to confirm the molecular weight of plasma glycocalicin.
- Developed an immunoradiometric assay for quantifying plasma glycocalicin.
Main Results:
- The developed assay successfully distinguished glycocalicin from GPIb.
- Normal plasma contains approximately 1-3 micrograms/ml of glycocalicin.
- Patients with aplastic anemia (thrombocytopenia) showed significantly reduced glycocalicin levels, while patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic-uremic syndrome had normal levels.
Conclusions:
- Plasma contains detectable levels of glycocalicin, independent of platelet fragments.
- The plasma level of glycocalicin appears to be influenced by platelet count, turnover, and destruction site.
- This assay provides a potential tool for assessing platelet GPIb catabolism in vivo and diagnosing related disorders.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Protein Glycosylation
Glycosylation, the most common post-translational modification for proteins, serves diverse functions. Adding sugars to proteins makes the proteins more resistant to proteolytic digestion. Glycosylated proteins can act as markers and receptors to promote cell-cell adhesion. Additionally, they have many essential quality control functions in the cell, such as correct protein folding and facilitating transport of misfolded proteins to the cytosol, which can be degraded.
Glycosylation occurs in...
Glycosylation occurs in...
01:15Transcytosis of IgG
Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
01:05Proteoglycans
Glycans, a class of complex heterogeneous molecules, can be covalently attached to proteins to form glycosylated proteins that regulate various physiological and pathological processes. Glycosylated proteins or glycoproteins comprise N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. O-glycosylation is the most common type of protein glycosylation. Here, glycans attach to the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl groups of Serine or Threonine residues. O-linked glycosylation occurs later in protein processing,...
01:21Matrix Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins
Proteoglycans are extensively glycosylated proteins, commonly found in the extracellular matrix, interwoven with collagen fibers. Hyaline cartilage, the most common type of cartilage in the body, consists of short and dispersed collagen fibers associated with large amounts of proteoglycans. These proteoglycans have long negative charges that attract cations, which in turn attract water molecules. This influx of ions and water molecules swells up the proteoglycan like a water-soaked gel that can...
01:14Glycocalyx and its Functions
The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich, fuzzy-appearing layer on the outer surface of the cell membrane. It is highly hydrophilic, because of this it attracts large amounts of water to the cell's surface. This aids the cell's interaction with the watery environment and also helps it to obtain substances dissolved in the water. It is also important for cell identification, self/non-self determination, and embryonic development and is used in cell-to-cell attachments to form tissues.
Components of...
Components of...