Definition

A type of protein found in muscle tissue that helps control muscle contraction by interacting with calcium ions and other proteins.

Example

Doctors often measure troponin levels in the blood to assess heart damage after a heart attack.

Conversation

Have you heard about troponin and its role in muscle contraction?

Yeah, it's that protein that helps regulate how muscles work, right?

Exactly! It interacts with calcium ions to allow muscle fibers to contract.

That's fascinating! I didn't realize how important troponin was for muscle function.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Troponin is derived from the Greek word 'tropos' (meaning turn or change) and 'tonos' (meaning tension or tone). Troponin is a protein complex that plays a crucial role in muscle contraction by regulating the interaction between actin and myosin, thus affecting muscle tone and contraction dynamics.

Memory Tip

Think of 'turning' ('tropos') and 'tension' ('tonos') to remember that troponin is involved in regulating muscle contraction and tone.

Visually Confused Words