Troponin

Troponin is a protein found in heart and skeletal muscles. It plays a crucial role in muscle contraction by regulating interactions between actin and myosin, the proteins that enable muscles to contract. In medical contexts, measuring troponin levels in the blood is important because elevated levels can indicate heart damage, often due to a heart attack. When heart muscle cells are injured, troponin is released into the bloodstream, making it a valuable marker for doctors to assess heart health and diagnose potential cardiac issues.