• Question: Have you heard of Troponin?

    • Keywords:
      • Click on a keyword to find out more on the RSC site:
      Asked by Ava to Aoife, Brian, Conor, Louise, Matthew on 10 Nov 2016. This question was also asked by 856newg35.
      • Photo: Matthew Kitching

        Matthew Kitching answered on 10 Nov 2016:

        Hi Ava,

        I must admit i didn’t know what troponin was when you asked your question (fortunately – i had a little google and it reminded me lol)

        So troponin is three proteins all stuck together (we call them a complex) that helps control when muscles in your heart can contract – if your heart is damaged (like when you have a heart attack) it can be released in to the blood stream, so doctors can use it as a signal that you heart disease.

        Muscles are AMAZING! and controlling how they contract is a super hard job to do. Chemists have tried to copy muscles and build materials that act like muscle on a molecular level. One of these guys is Fraser Stoddart – he won the noble prize this year for trying to copy how these incredible biological machines work!

        Hope that answers your question – let me know if you want to know more! 🙂

      • Photo: Louise Mc Grath

        Louise Mc Grath answered on 10 Nov 2016:

        Hi Ava,

        Just like Matthew, I needed to have an ole google to remind myself what it was.. It has been 5 years since I did biology!

        Its such an interesting protein, it just goes to show how amazing our bodies are as it has its own warning signals. So if your heart is damaged troponin is released into the blood, which makes it way easier for doctors to detect heart problems! The best thing about this protein is that is is specific to your heart, so if this is detected the doctors know that your heart is in trouble..

        However if you heart is healthy then it won’t be found in the blood, instead it will be in your heart helping out with muscle contractions!

        I think it is a pretty nifty protein.. as it helps our heart muscles contract, and then send us warning signals when our heart is damaged! Sounds like man’s best friend to me!

    Comments