Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor inhibits trypsin, plasmin, and lysosomal granulocytic elastase. Inhibits calcium oxalate crystallization. Trypstatin is a trypsin inhibitor.
Post-translational: The precursor is proteolytically processed into separately functioning proteins. 3-hydroxykynurenine, an oxidized tryptophan metabolite that is common in biological fluids, reacts with Cys-53, Lys-111, Lys-137, and Lys-149 to form heterogeneous polycyclic chromophores including hydroxanthommatin. The reaction by alpha-1-microglobulin is autocatalytic; the human protein forms chromophore even when expressed in insect and bacterial cells. The chromophore can react with accessible cysteines forming non-reducible thioether cross-links with other molecules of alpha-1-microglobulin or with other proteins such as Ig alpha-1 chain C region 'Cys-352'. Heavy chains are interlinked with bikunin via a chondroitin 4-sulfate bridge to the their C-terminal aspartate. Addition of glycosaminoglycan chondroitin sulfate, allows cross-linking between the different components.