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A2058

Sigma-Aldrich

Bovine Serum Albumin

lyophilized powder, essentially IgG-free, low endotoxin, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture

Synonym(s):

Albumin bovine serum, BSA, Bovine albumin

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About This Item

CAS Number:
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352202
NACRES:
NA.27

biological source

bovine

product line

BioReagent

Assay

≥95% (agarose gel electrophoresis)

form

lyophilized powder

mol wt

~66 kDa

purified by

chromatography

packaging

poly bottle of

origin

New Zealand origin

technique(s)

cell culture | mammalian: suitable

impurities

IgG free
≤0.05% IgG
≤1 EU/mg endotoxin

pH

7

solubility

water: soluble (40 mg/ml)

UniProt accession no.

storage temp.

2-8°C

Gene Information

bovine ... ALB(280717)

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General description

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is a non-glycosylated protein belonging to the serum albumins family. It is a globular protein with α-helix structure and 17-disulfide bonds. BSA has a molecular weight of 66 kDa consisting three domains and two subdomains under each. BSA shows structural similarity with human serum albumin.

Application

BSA is widely used as a blocking agent in immunoassays and immunodetection procedures, and also as a carrier protein for dilution of antibodies. Thus it is of concern to be aware of potential trace endogenous content of globulins / IgG in BSA, because of concerns that such trace globulins / IgG may serve as antigens for secondary antibodies in immunodetection work. This product undergoes testing for low IgG content / status as essentially immunoglobulin-free.

Select the right albumin for your application with the Albumin Selection Guide
BSA is widely used as a blocking agent in immunoassays and immunodetection procedures, and also as a carrier protein for dilution of antibodies. Thus it is of concern to be aware of potential trace endogenous content of globulins / IgG in BSA, because of concerns that such trace globulins / IgG may serve as antigens for secondary antibodies in immunodetection work. This product undergoes testing for low IgG content / status as essentially immunoglobulin-free.

Select the right albumin for your application with the Albumin Selection Guide.
Bovine Serum Albumin has been used to treat polyomavirus BK to serve as a control in testing intravenous immunoglobulins preparations.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) acts as a carrier protein for drugs, hormones and fatty acids. It is an essential component of cell culture medium. BSA serves as a blocking agent in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and prevents non-specific binding of antigens and antibodies to the microtiter plates. Due to its high solubility, low cost and purity and interaction with surfactant, it is useful in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.
Certain conformational and primary-sequence epitopes of BSA are suspected allergens in human beef and milk allergies.

Features and Benefits

  • Tested for use in cell culture
  • Low endotoxin
  • Essentially IgG-free (immunoglobulin free)

Preparation Note

Prepared by salt fractionation, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography.
Serum albumin may be referred to as Fraction V. This naming convention is taken from the original Cohn method of fractionating serum proteins using cold ethanol precipitation. Serum albumin was found in the fifth ethanol fraction using Cohn′s method. Since then, the term "Fraction V" has been used by some to describe serum albumin regardless of the method of preparation. Others have used this term to describe serum albumin purified by ethanol fractionation methods that have been highly modified since the original Cohn method was described. Sigma-Aldrich manufactures and distributes serum albumins purified from a variety of primary methods including the true Cohn fractionation method, modified ethanol fractionation methods, heat shock and chromatography. Additional purification steps may include crystallization or charcoal filtration.

Storage Class Code

11 - Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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Bovine serum albumin interactions with metal complexes
Topalua T, et al.
Medicine and Pharmacy Reports, 87(4), 215-215 (2014)
T Noelle Lombana et al.
mAbs, 11(6), 1122-1138 (2019-05-28)
IgA antibodies have broad potential as a novel therapeutic platform based on their superior receptor-mediated cytotoxic activity, potent neutralization of pathogens, and ability to transcytose across mucosal barriers via polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR)-mediated transport, compared to traditional IgG-based drugs. However
Polyomavirus BK neutralizing activity in human immunoglobulin preparations.
Randhawa P S, et al.
Transplantation, 89(12), 1462-1462 (2010)
Fu-Ju Chou et al.
EBioMedicine, 40, 504-516 (2019-01-30)
While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiotherapy (RT) are currently used together to treat locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa), RT might have the adverse effect of increasing the PCa androgen receptor (AR) protein expression, which might then increase the resistance
Binding of fatty acid amide amphiphiles to bovine serum albumin: role of amide hydrogen bonding
Ghosh S and Dey J
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 119(25), 7804-7815 (2015)

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