Alpha-1 foetoprotein polyclonal, anti-human

Quantity: 200 µl

Background:
The reactivity of the antiserum is restricted to alpha-foetoprotein. In immunoelectrophoresis and radial immunodiffusion, using various antiserum concentrations against amniotic fluid, hepatoma sera and purified alpha-foetoprotein a single precipitin line is obtained. No precipitation reaction is obtained with normal human serum. In precipitating techniques as immunoelectrophoresis and single and double radial immunodiffusion (Mancini, Ouchterlony) to identify the presence of alpha-foetoprotein or to determine its concentration.

Isotype: Rabbit Polyclonal

Source: Purified human alpha-foetoprotein is isolated from pooled amniotic fluid and hepatoma serum, using a proprietary multiple step method. Several foetoproteins have been demonstrated in human foetal serum and amniotic fluid. One of the best studied is the alphafoetoprotein. It cab easily be identified immunochemically because of its distinct antigenicity. In electrophoresis its relative mobility is between the albumin and alpha-1 globulin fractions. Its molecular weight is 64,000, the carbohydrate content is relatively low. The concentration of alpha-foetoprotein gradually decreases during foetal growth. It is not found in normal adult serum, but reappears in most human developing hepatoma. In pooled foetal/newborn serum a concentration of 1 mg/ml has been measured. Freund's complete adjuvant is used in the first step of the immunization procedure.

Form: Delipidated, heat inactivated, in PBS and 0.1% sodium azide.

Reactivity: human

Cross Reactivity:
The antiserum does not cross react with any other Human plasma proteins as tested in geldiffusion techniques. Inter-species cross reactivity is a normal feature of antibodies to mammalian Serum proteins, since homologous proteins of different species frequently share antigenic determinants. Cross-reactivity of this antiserum has not been tested in detail.

Applications: Immunoprecipitation

Storage: Store at 4C, or in small aliquots at -20C.