| Description | Product introductionFirefly luciferase is an enzyme that catalyzes production of light from luciferin in the presence of Mg2+-ATP and oxygen. The reaction of this enzyme with luciferin, ATP, and O2 results in the emission of light. Luciferase activity can be inhibited by general anesthetics Product introductionFirefly luciferase is an enzyme that catalyzes production of light from luciferin in the presence of Mg2+-ATP and oxygen. The reaction of this enzyme with luciferin, ATP, and O2 results in the emission of light. Luciferase activity can be inhibited by general anesthetics including isoflurane and ketamine/medetomidine thereby affecting the sensitivity of bioluminescence imaging.ApplicationThe reaction of this enzyme with luciferin, ATP, and O2 results in the emission of light. Luciferase can be used to detect trace amounts of ATP. Firefly luciferase is also one of the most commonly utilized reporter genes for the study of gene expression. The bioluminescent reaction catalyzed by luciferase is one of the most sensitive analytical tools for measuring gene expression. < or equal to one femtomole of ATP can be detected using 0.2 µg of luciferase... Read More | Protein Purity≥85% by SDS PAGEExtinction CoeffA280 nm = 10.16 at 1.0 mg/ml for pure C3Molecular Weight187,000 Da (2 chains)General DescriptionRat C3 is purified from pooled normal rat serum. C3 is central to the activation of all three pathways of complement activation (Law, S.K.A. and Reid, KProtein Purity≥85% by SDS PAGEExtinction CoeffA280 nm = 10.16 at 1.0 mg/ml for pure C3Molecular Weight187,000 Da (2 chains)General DescriptionRat C3 is purified from pooled normal rat serum. C3 is central to the activation of all three pathways of complement activation (Law, S.K.A. and Reid, K.B.M. (1995)). Initiation of each pathway generates proteolytic enzyme complexes (C3 convertases) which are bound to the target surface. These enzymes cleave a peptide bond in C3 releasing the anaphylatoxin C3a and activating C3b. For a brief time (~60 µs) this nascent C3b is capable of reacting with and covalently coupling to hydroxyl groups on the target surface. Carbohydrates are the favored target, but protein hydroxyls and amino groups also react. This process of tagging the target surface with C3b is called opsonization. The reactive site in nascent C3b is a thioester (Tack B.J., et al. (1980); Pangburn M.K. and MüllerEberhard H.J. (1980)) and C3b is linked to the target through a covalent ester bond (an amide bond is formed if C3b is attached to amino groups). Most of the C3 activated during complement activation never attaches to the surface because its thioester reacts with water forming fluid phase C3b which is rapidly inactivated by factors H and I forming iC3b. Surface-bound C3b is necessary in all three pathways for efficient activation of C5 and formation of C5b-9 complexes that lyse the target cell membrane. Surface-bound C3b and its breakdown products iC3b and C3d are recognized by numerous receptors on lymphoid and phagocytic cells which use the C3b ligand to stimulate antigen presentation to cells of the adaptive immune system. The end result is an expansion of target-specific B-cell and T-cell populations.Physical Characteristics & StructureThe calculated molecular weight of rat C3 based on its amino acid sequence is 184,111daltons (without the signal peptide) and is similar to that of human C3 (185,000 daltons).The molecular weight of rat C3 as determined by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been reported by Daha, M.R. et al., (1979) to be 187,000 daltons composed of two disulfide linked chains, alpha chain (123,000 daltons) and beta chain (76,000 daltons). The extinction coefficient of rat C3 (E1%/280nm = 10.16) is calculated based on its amino acid sequence using ProtParam and assumes all pairs of Cys residues form cystines (i.e. a pair of cysteine molecules are joined by a disulfide bond). The theoretical pI of rat C3 is 6.12. The normal plasma concentration of C3 inWistar rats has been reported to be 0.581mg/ml (Daha, M.R. et al., (1979)).FunctionThe biological functions of C3 are described above in the General Description section.GeneticsRat C3 chromosome location 9. The NCBI Gene ID number for rat C3 is 24232 and UniProt accession number is P01026.Precautions/Toxicity/HazardsThis protein is purified from animal plasma/serum and therefore precautions appropriate for handling any animal blood-derived product must be used.ReferencesLaw, S.K.A. and Reid, K.B.M. (1995) Complement 2nd Edition (ISBN 0199633568) Oxford University Press, Oxford.Tack BF, Harrison RA, Janatova J, Thomas ML, Prahl JW. (1980) Evidence for presence of an internal thiolester bond in third component of human complement. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 77:5764-8.Pangburn M.K. and Müller-Eberhard H.J. (1980) Relation of putative thioester bond in C3 to activation of the alternative pathway and the binding of C3b to biological targets of complement. J Exp Med. 152:1102-14.Daha MR, Stuffers-Heiman M, Kijlstra A and Van ES LA. (1979) Isolation and characterization of the third component of rat complement. Immunology 36:63-70... Read More | Protein Purity>95% by SDS-PAGEExtinction Coeff.A276 nm = 0.456 at 1.0 mg/mLMolecular Weight8,759 Da (single chain)General DescriptionNatural human C4a is prepared by cleavage of human C4 protein by human C1s. It is produced during activation of both the classical and lectin pathways of complementProtein Purity>95% by SDS-PAGEExtinction Coeff.A276 nm = 0.456 at 1.0 mg/mLMolecular Weight8,759 Da (single chain)General DescriptionNatural human C4a is prepared by cleavage of human C4 protein by human C1s. It is produced during activation of both the classical and lectin pathways of complement. C4a is a member of the anaphylatoxin family of three proteins (C3a, C4a and C5a) produced by the activation of complement (Hugli, T.E. et al. (1981)). It is an unglycosylated polypeptidecontaining 77 amino acids with a molecular mass of 8,759 daltons. Many of the biological functions of C4a are similar to those of C3a, but the specific activities are far below those of C3a. C4a activity is so low, in fact, that it was initially thought to be inactive. These measured activities include inducing muscle contraction in the guinea pig ileum test (spasmogenic activity), desensitization of muscle to C3a stimulation suggesting that the same receptor for both C3a and C4a is involved (tachyphylactic activity) and inducing vascular permeability in human skin (Gorski J.P. et al. (1979)). C4a does not show tachyphylactic activity against C5a or chemotactic activity. Removal of the C-terminal arginine by serum carboxypeptidase N destroys all these activities (Meuller-Ortiz, S.L., et al. (2009)). C4a appears to act through the C3a receptor (C3aR) which is a G-protein coupled receptor found widely distributed on peripheral tissues, lymphoid cells (neutrohphils, monocyes, and eosinophils) and in the central nervous system (astrocytes, neurons and glial cells) (Law, S.K.A. and Reid, K.B.M. (1995)). Physical Characteristics & StructureMolecular weight: 8,759 calculated molecular mass. Observed mass (MALDI-TOF) is 8,762 + 9 mass units. pI = 9.0 to 9.5 (Gorski, J.P. et al. (1981))Amino acid sequence (77 amino acids): NVNFQKAINE KLGQYASPTA KRCCQDGVTR LPMMRSCEQR AARVQQPDCR EPFLSCCQFA ESLRKKSRDK GQAGLQRC4a is thought to be structurally very similar to C3a and C5a to which it is homologous. Thus its 3D structure is probably similar to the X-ray-derived crystal structureof C3a (Huber, R. et al. (1980)) and the NMR derived structure of C3a: Nettesheim, D.G. et al. (1988); Murray, I. et al. (1999).FunctionSee General Description above. C4a exhibits much weaker biological activities than C3a and C5a. Its activity in inducing erythema and edema in human skin is 25,000-fold weaker than that of C5a and 100-fold weaker than C3a per nanomole. The spasmogenic activity of C4a is 2000-fold weaker than C5a and 100-fold weaker than that of C3a. Due to these differences the role of C4a in these responses in vivo is thought to be negligible.AssaysTwo well established assays for C4a and C3a functional activities include induction of contraction in the guinea pig ileum and the permeation of a dye such as trypan blue from the vasculature into skin. The anaphylatoxins also induce mast cell degranulation, (measured as histamine release), platelet aggregation, IL-1 release from monocytes and the release of prostaglandins and leukotrienes from many cells and tissues. The other assays used for C3a (Dodds, A.W. and Sim, R.B. (1997)) should also respond to C4a, but few reports have described utilizing these assays with C4a. ELISA kits for the assay of C4a levels (or more correctly C4a desArg levels) in blood and other fluids are sold by several companies. These measurements are useful for detecting complement activation in vivo, but the interpretation of their meaning is complicated by the fact that clearance of the anaphylatoxins is rapid. In vivoFreshly drawn normal human serum contains significant levels of all three anaphylatoxins. Although these may represent the resting concentration in vivo it is difficult to draw or store blood without some complement activation so a true in vivo concentration is difficult to determine. The presence of EDTA and Futhan in the collection tubes can minimize this background (Pfeifer, P.H. et al. (1999)). Full activation of all C4 in blood (600µg/mL) would result in ~3,400 nM C4a (~30 µg/mL). Due to the low biological activity of C4a it could require activation of most of the C4 in a small region to achieve the micromolar C4a concentrations necessary to elicit a response.RegulationC4a levels are regulated by three processes: formation, inactivation and clearance. There are two enzymes that cleave C4 and release C4a: C1s and MASP-2. C4a is “inactivated” by removal of its C-terminal arginine amino acid. The product C4a desArg (or C4a without the C-terminal arginine) is produced by the action of the plasma enzyme carboxypeptidase N (Mueller-Ortiz S.L. et al. (2009)). The inactivation is rapid and most C4a is converted to C4a desArg within minutes of its formation. Inactivated C4a lack measurable biological activity. Because of the large number of cells bearing C3a/C4areceptors (endothelial, immune, smooth muscle, neuronal, etc.) the capture, internalization and digestion of C4a and C4a desArg probably results in its removal from circulation.DeficienciesA deficiency of C4 or a deficiency of all of the enzymes that cleave C4 to generate C4a could result in the absence of C4a. There are no known complete deficiencies of all ofthe C4 cleaving enzymes. Examples of C4 deficient humans and mice exist (Wessels, M.R. et al. (1995)), but the degree to which pathologies associated with C4 deficiency are due to the lack of C4 or the absence of C4a is unclear. DiseasesThere are no known diseases connected to C4a or C4a desArg. Precautions/Toxicity/HazardsThe source of C4a is human serum, therefore appropriate precautions must be observed even though the source was shown by certified tests to be negative for HBsAg, HTLV-I/II, STS, and for antibodies to HCV, HIV-1 and HIV-II.Injection can cause anaphylatic shock which is a generalized circulatory collapse similar to that caused by an allergic reaction.Hazard Code: B WGK Germany 3... Read More | FunctionSignal-transducing molecule. The receptor systems for IL6, LIF, OSM, CNTF, IL11, CTF1 and BSF3 can utilize gp130 for initiating signal transmission. Binds to IL6/IL6R (alpha chain) complex, resulting in the formation of high-affinity IL6 binding sites, and transduces the signal. Does not FunctionSignal-transducing molecule. The receptor systems for IL6, LIF, OSM, CNTF, IL11, CTF1 and BSF3 can utilize gp130 for initiating signal transmission. Binds to IL6/IL6R (alpha chain) complex, resulting in the formation of high-affinity IL6 binding sites, and transduces the signal. Does not bind IL6. May have a role in embryonic development (By similarity). The type I OSM receptor is capable of transducing OSM-specific signaling events.Post-translationalPhosphorylation of Ser-782 down-regulates cell surface expression. Heavily N-glycosylated... Read More | Purity:>90%, by SDS-PAGE visualized with Coomassie® Blue Staining.Implicated in the control of cell proliferation and cellular aging. May also act as a chaperone |