Ovalbumin
Ovalbumin (abbreviated OVA[1]) is the main protein found in egg white, making up 60-65% of the total protein.[2] Ovalbumin displays sequence and three-dimensional homology to the serpin superfamily, but unlike most serpins it is not a serine protease inhibitor.[3] The function of ovalbumin is unknown, although it is presumed to be a storage protein.[4]
Contents
Research
Ovalbumin is an important protein in several different areas of research, including:
- general studies of protein structure and properties (because it is available in large quantities).
- studies of serpin structure and function (the fact that ovalbumin does not inhibit proteases means that by comparing its structure with that of inhibitory serpins, the structural characteristics required for inhibition can be determined).
- proteomics (chicken egg ovalbumin is commonly used as a molecular weight marker for calibrating electrophoresis gels).
- immunology (commonly used to stimulate an allergic reaction in test subjects, e.g. established model allergen for airway hyper-responsiveness, AHR).
(For in vivo and in vitro studies based on ovalbumin it is important that the endotoxin content is less than 1 EU/mg.)[citation needed]
Structure
The ovalbumin protein of chickens is made up of 385 amino acids, and its relative molecular mass is 45 kDa.[5] Ovalbumin also has several modifications, including N-terminal acetylation (G1), phosphorylation (S68, S344), and glycosylation (N292).[5]
It is secreted from the cell. Unlike the signal sequences of most secreted proteins, Ovalbumin's signal sequence is not cleaved. Additionally it is not located directly on the N-terminus, but rather internally, starting at residue 21 and ending at residue 47.[6]
Medicinal characteristics
In cases where poisoning by heavy metals (such as Iron) is suspected, ovalbumin may be administered.[7] Ovalbumin chelates to heavy metals and traps the metal ions within the sulfhydryl bonds of the protein. Chelating prevents the absorption of the metals into the gastrointestinal tract and prevents poisoning.
See also
References
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- ↑ Gettins PGW (2002) Serpin structure, mechanism, and function. Chemical Reviews 102(12): 4751-4804.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nisbet AD, Saundry RH, Moir AJG, Fothergill LA, Fothergill JE (1981) The complete amino-acid sequence of hen ovalbumin. European Journal of Biochemistry 115(2): 335.
- ↑ Robinson A, Meredith C, Austen BM (1986) Isolation and properties of the signal region from ovalbumin. FEBS Letters 203(2): 243-246.
- ↑ Dominiczak M, Baynes J, Medical Biochemistry, 2d edition (2004), p59.
External links
- Ovalbumin at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
