globulin

globulin

any of a group of simple proteins, including gamma globulin, that are generally insoluble in water but soluble in salt solutions and coagulated by heat

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Globulin

A general name for any member of a heterogeneous group of serum proteins precipitated by 50% saturated ammonium sulfate. See Protein, Serum

The introduction of electrophoresis during the 1930s permitted subdivision of the globulins into alpha, beta, and gamma globulins on the basis of relative mobility at alkaline pH (8.6). However, each of these subgroups, though electrophoretically homogeneous, consists of a great variety of proteins with different biological properties and markedly different sizes and chemical properties other than net charge. Thus the α₂-globulins, for example, as defined by moving boundary or paper electrophoresis, contain proteins ranging in molecular weight from approximately 50,000 to approximately 1,000,000 (α₂-macroglobulin), each with differing functions. See Immunoglobulin

McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Bioscience. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

globulin

[′gläb·yə·lən]

(biochemistry)

A heat-labile serum protein precipitated by 50% saturated ammonium sulfate and soluble in dilute salt solutions.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.