Historical overview of analytical methods for the measurement of transthyretin.

Abstract

The history of prealbumin dates back to the early forties and may be divided into three parts, based on a chronological and functional approach. The first part--the discovery and the identification of prealbumin--was essentially based on classical protein chemistry methods. The second--the demonstration of prealbumin as a thyroid hormone-binding protein (thyroxine-binding prealbumin)--has greatly benefited from isotopic techniques. The third one--establishing prealbumin as a nutritional marker--was a result of field studies on nutrition. The discovery of the role of prealbumin in retinol binding led to a change in its name, prealbumin becoming transthyretin. Finally, structural studies and mutation analysis of transthyretin in patients with amyloid neuropathy have opened a new area of research.

• Authors: Philippe De Nayer
• Journal: Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine (Clin Chem Lab Med) Vol. 40 Issue 12 Pg. 1271-3 (Dec 2002) ISSN: 1434-6621 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12553430 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Prealbumin
• Thyroxine-Binding Proteins

Topics

• Amyloid Neuropathies (genetics)
• Animals
• Humans
• Mutation
• Prealbumin (genetics, metabolism)
• Protein Binding
• Thyroxine-Binding Proteins (metabolism)