Albumin is a soluble and globular monomeric protein encoded by chromosome 4 that comprises about half of the protein found in blood serum. It functions as a carrier protein for steroids, fatty acids, and thyroid hormones as well as stabilizing extracellular fluid volume. Gene mutations result in various anomalous proteins. Albumin is synthesized in the liver as a preproalbumin with an N-terminal peptide that is removed before the nascent protein is released from the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
