Currently, the troponins are the definitive markers of myocyte injury. The troponins are contractile proteins that regulate muscle contractions; they work with calcium ions and another protein, tropomyosin. There are three types of troponin:
- Troponin C -- Calcium-Binding Component
- Troponin I -- Inhibitory Component
- Troponin T -- Tropomyosin-Binding Component
Isoforms of the troponins are found in cardiac muscle and in slow-twitch and fast-twitch skeletal muscle. Troponin C is found in both cardiac and skeletal muscle in the same form. Troponin I has a specific form found in cardiac muscle, cTnI; cTnT is the cardiac specific form of troponin T.
