Question:

The 'C' in C-reactive protein stands for:

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Named because it reacts with a pneumococcal polysaccharide.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Capsular polysaccharide in pneumococcus
  • Concanavalin-A
  • Calretinin
  • Cellular
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant synthesised by the liver in response to inflammation.
Step 2: It was named for its ability to react with (precipitate) the C-polysaccharide of the cell wall of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
Step 3: Hence the letter 'C' refers to this C-polysaccharide, i.e. the capsular/cell-wall polysaccharide of pneumococcus, making option A correct.
Step 4: Concanavalin-A is a plant lectin, calretinin is a calcium-binding protein used in immunohistochemistry, and 'cellular' is not the origin of the name, so options B, C and D are wrong.
Conclusion: The correct answer is option 1, matching the printed key.
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