What is importance of plasma proteins

It helps to transport hydrophilic or lipophyllic molecules across the membtane

The proteins present in the plasma of human blood are a mixture of simple proteins, glycoproteins, lipoproteins and other conjugated proteins are called “Plasma Proteins“. These may be separated by salt precipitation, immunological technique and electrophoresis.

Functions of Plasma Protern :

1. Protein Nutrition: Plasma proteins act as a source of protein for the tissues, whenever the need arises
2. Osmotic Pressure and water balance: Plasma proteins exert an osmotic pressure of about 25 mm of Hg and therefore play an important role in maintaining a proper water balance between the tissues and blood. Plasma albumin is mainly responsible for this function due to its low molecular weight and quantitative dominance over other proteins.
3. Buffering action: Plasma proteins help in maintaining the pH of the body by acting asampholytes. At normal blood pH they act as acids and accept captions.
4. Transport of Lipids: One of the most important functions of plasma proteins us to transport lipids and lipid soluble substances in the body.
5. Transport of other substances: In addition to lipids, plasma proteins also transport several metals and other substances α2-Globulins transport copper (Ceruloplasmin), bound hemoglobin (haptoglobin) and thyroxine (glycoprotein) and non-heme iron is transported by transferrin present in β-globulin fraction. Calcium, Magnesium, some drugs and dyes and several cations and anions are transported by plasma albumin.
6. Blood Coagulation: Prothrombin present in α2-globulin fraction and fibrinogen, participate in the blood clotting process as follows.