| microglobulin | <protein> Any small globular plasma protein (18 Nov 1997) |
|---|
| beta 2-microglobulin | An 11 kD protein associated with the outer membrane of many cells including lymphocytes. It is the small subunit of the MHC class I molecule. Association with beta 2-microglobulin is generally required for the transport of class I heavy chains from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface. Beta 2-microglobulin is present in small amounts in serum, csf, and urine of normal people, and to a much greater degree in the urine and plasma of patients with tubular proteinaemia, renal failure, or kidney transplants. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|