Anti-Collagen Type IV COL4A1 Antibody

Collagens are highly conserved throughout evolution and are characterized by an uninterrupted ''Glycine-X-Y'' triplet repeat that is a necessary part of the triple helical structure. For these reasons, it is often extremely difficult to generate antibodies with specificities to collagens. The development of ‘type’ specific antibodies is dependent on NON-DENATURED three-dimensional epitopes. Boster extensively purifies collagens for immunization from human and bovine placenta and cartilage by limited pepsin digestion and selective salt precipitation. This preparation results in a native conformation of the protein. Antibodies are isolated from rabbit antiserum and are extensively cross-adsorbed by immunoaffinity purification to produce 'type' specific antibodies. Greatly diminished reactivity and selectivity of these antibodies will result if denaturing and reducing conditions are used for SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting.

Anti-Collagen Type IV has been prepared by immunoaffinity chromatography using immobilized antigens followed by extensive cross-adsorption against other collagens, human serum proteins and non-collagen extracellular matrix proteins to remove any unwanted specificities. Some class-specific anti-collagens may be specific for three-dimensional epitopes which may result in diminished reactivity with denatured collagen or formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues. This antibody reacts with most mammalian Type IV collagens and has negligible cross-reactivity with Type I, II, III, V or VI collagens. Non-specific cross-reaction of anti-collagen antibodies with other human serum proteins or non-collagen extracellular matrix proteins is negligible.

Type IV collagen is the major structural component of glomerular basement membranes (GBM), forming a 'chicken-wire' meshwork together with laminins, proteoglycans and entactin/nidogen.

Store vial at 4°C prior to opening. This product is stable at 4°C as an undiluted liquid. Dilute only prior to immediate use. For extended storage, mix with an equal volume of glycerol, aliquot contents and freeze at -20°C or below. Avoid cycles of freezing and thawing. Expiration date is one (1) year from date of opening. (Ship on wet ice.)