Globulin is one of the two types of serum proteins, the other being albumin. This generic term encompasses a heterogeneous series of families of proteins, with larger molecules and less soluble in pure water than albumin, which migrate less than albumin during serum electrophoresis. The normal range in blood is 2 to 3.5 g/dl.

It is sometimes used synonymously with globular protein. However, albumin is also a globular protein, but not a globulin. All other serum globular proteins are globulins.

Protein electrophoresis is used to categorize globulins into the following four categories:

• Alpha 1 globulins
• Alpha 2 globulins
• Beta globulins
• Gamma globulins (one group of gamma globulins are immunoglobulins, that function as antibodies)

Reference ranges for blood tests, comparing blood content of globulins (shown in purple at right) with other constituents.

[edit] External links

• Serum Proteins
• Cornell
• Understanding and interpreting serum protein electrophoresis
• MeSH Globulins

This protein-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

The original article states: “Globulin is one of the two types of serum proteins, the other being albumin.” However, according to Marieb & Hoehn (2007, pg. 649, Table 17.1), there are in fact, three types of serum proteins, including the aforementioned globulin, albumin, as well as fibrinogen. Reference: Marieb, E. M., & Hoehn, K. (2007). Human Anatomy & Physiology (7th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.