The largest major nonimmunoglobulin protein in plasma:

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Multiple Choice

The largest major nonimmunoglobulin protein in plasma:

The largest major nonimmunoglobulin protein in plasma is alpha-2-macroglobulin. It is an enormous glycoprotein, around 720 kDa, existing as a tetramer in the circulation. Its main role is broad-spectrum protease inhibition: it traps proteases inside a molecular cage after the protease cleaves a specific bait region, preventing further digestion of substrates. The trapped complex is cleared by liver receptors such as the LDL receptor-related protein. This makes it much larger than other common nonimmunoglobulin plasma proteins, such as alpha1-antitrypsin (~52 kDa), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (~40–50 kDa), and transferrin (~80 kDa).

The largest major nonimmunoglobulin protein in plasma is alpha-2-macroglobulin. It is an enormous glycoprotein, around 720 kDa, existing as a tetramer in the circulation. Its main role is broad-spectrum protease inhibition: it traps proteases inside a molecular cage after the protease cleaves a specific bait region, preventing further digestion of substrates. The trapped complex is cleared by liver receptors such as the LDL receptor-related protein. This makes it much larger than other common nonimmunoglobulin plasma proteins, such as alpha1-antitrypsin (52 kDa), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (40–50 kDa), and transferrin (~80 kDa).

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