Protein Name: Alpha Globulins (Cohn Fraction IV)
Common Name: Alpha-1-Globulins, Alpha-2-Globulins
Source: Plasma (Cohn Fraction IV)
Common Uses: Alpha Globulins are a group of proteins found in blood plasma and are separated based on their electrophoretic mobility. Alpha-1-globulins and Alpha-2-globulins are two major subfractions of alpha globulins. They have important roles in various physiological functions:
Transport: Alpha-1-globulins and Alpha-2-globulins transport various substances, including hormones, metal ions, lipids, and certain drugs, in the bloodstream.
Immune Response: Some alpha-1-globulins, such as alpha-1-antitrypsin, play a crucial role in protecting tissues from damage by inhibiting protease enzymes released by neutrophils during inflammation.
Coagulation and Fibrinolysis: Alpha-2-globulins include proteins involved in coagulation and fibrinolysis, which are processes that regulate blood clotting and dissolution.
 
Other Information: Cohn Fraction IV is a component obtained during the fractionation of human plasma using the Cohn method. This method separates plasma proteins into different fractions based on their relative solubility at different ethanol concentrations.
 
Alpha Globulins, including alpha-1-globulins and alpha-2-globulins, play essential roles in maintaining homeostasis, immune responses, and blood clotting. The specific proteins within these subfractions include alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-fetoprotein, haptoglobin, and more.
 
These proteins have important clinical significance and are used in medical research, diagnostics, and disease monitoring. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, for example, is associated with lung and liver diseases.