A3733

Bovine Serum Albumin

lyophilized powder, ≥98% (agarose gel electrophoresis)

• Synonym(s): Albumin bovine serum, BSA, Bovine albumin
• CAS Number: 9048-46-8
• EC Number: 232-936-2
• MDL number: MFCD00130384
• UNSPSC Code: 12352202
• NACRES: NA.27

Properties

• biological source: bovine
• Assay: ≥98% (agarose gel electrophoresis)
• form: lyophilized powder
• mol wt: ~66 kDa
• purified by: heat shock fractionation
• packaging: poly bottle of
• origin: New Zealand origin
• technique(s): flow cytometry: suitable
• pH: 7; ~7 (1% in 0.15 M NaCl)
• solubility: water: slightly soluble
• UniProt accession no.: P02769
• storage temp.: 2-8°C
• Gene Information: bovine ... ALB(280717)

Description

General description

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) that belongs to the serum albumin family, is an α-helical, globular and non-glycosylated protein. It comprises three domains with two subdomains under each domain.

Application

Bovine Serum Albumin has been used:

• as a component of cryomedia for freezing testicular tissue
• to resuspend myometrial cells in flow cytometric analysis for cell viability quantification
• to block cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) for immunofluorescence staining

Biochem/physiol Actions

Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) is a transporter for drugs, hormones, and fatty acids. It displays high solubility and is exploited in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. BSA is useful as a cell media component and favors embryonic stem cells (hESC)differentiation.

Certain conformational and primary-sequence epitopes of BSA are suspected allergens in human beef and milk allergies.

Preparation Note

Derived from New Zealand source serum

Prepared using heat shock fractionation

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.

Safety Information

• 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