troponin

noun

tro·​po·​nin ˈtrō-pə-nən How to pronounce troponin (audio) ˈträ- How to pronounce troponin (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of troponin was in 1966

Browse Nearby Words

troponin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Troponin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troponin. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

troponin

noun
tro·​po·​nin ˈtrōp-ə-nən How to pronounce troponin (audio) ˈträp- How to pronounce troponin (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on troponin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about troponin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All