troponin

noun

tro·​po·​nin ˈtrō-pə-nən  ˈträ- 

-ˌnin

: a protein of muscle that together with tropomyosin forms a regulatory protein complex controlling the interaction of actin and myosin and that when combined with calcium ions permits muscular contraction

Examples of troponin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists in that study followed up with people who had faced chest pain and elevated amounts of troponin in their blood, a protein that usually signals some kind of heart damage. —Paula Cohen, CBS News, 21 May 2025

There, doctors discovered dangerously elevated troponin levels, a protein that indicates damage to the heart. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 13 May 2025

Broken heart syndrome can cause an increase in a cardiac enzyme called troponin, in the blood, that is also elevated by a heart attack. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025

Troponin is more specific and sensitive than CK, as cardiac troponin only increases when there's damage to the heart muscle. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 31 Dec. 2024

This includes tests that measure hormone levels in the body (such as thyroid and pregnancy tests), vitamin D levels, and heart health (troponin). —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 27 Sep. 2024

In an 11-patient study, the therapy showed some reduction in heart disease markers like left ventricle size and troponin levels. —Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 15 July 2024

If none are available, doctors should be extra wary of the blood panel’s readings, perform multiple tests to confirm low troponin levels, and also reference data from EKGs and other imaging. —Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 17 July 2023

The tests inaccurately showed low levels of troponin, a protein that indicates damage to the heart. —Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 17 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

by shortening & alteration from tropomyosin

Note: The name was apparently first used in print in a letter by the Japanese biochemist Setsuro Ebashi (1922-2006) and coworker Ayako Kodama, "Interaction of Troponin with F-Actin in the Presence of Tropomyosin," Journal of Biochemistry (Japanese Biochemical Society), vol. 59, issue 4 (April, 1966), p. 425.

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

troponin

noun

tro·​po·​nin ˈtrōp-ə-nən  ˈträp- 

-ˌnin

: a protein of muscle that together with tropomyosin forms a regulatory protein complex controlling the interaction of actin and myosin and that when combined with calcium ions permits muscular contraction