Description
Albumin serves multiple binding functions, attaching to water, Ca2+, Na+, K+, fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin, and drugs. Its primary role is to regulate blood's colloidal osmotic pressure. As a major zinc transporter in plasma, albumin typically binds approximately 80% of all plasma zinc. It likely possesses more than two calcium-binding sites and may also bind calcium in a non-specific way. The shared binding site for zinc and calcium at Asp-273 indicates possible interactions between zinc and calcium transport in the blood. In mice, albumin's function is closely tied to its specific and efficient expression in the liver. Research shows that the albumin gene's expression is controlled by its promoter and upstream enhancer