Rockland produces highly active antibodies and conjugates to collagens. 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. Rockland 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.
Store vial at -20° C or below prior to opening. This vial contains a relatively low volume of reagent (25 µL). To minimize loss of volume dilute 1:10 by adding 225 µL of the buffer stated above directly to the vial. Recap, mix thoroughly and briefly centrifuge to collect the volume at the bottom of the vial. Use this intermediate dilution when calculating final dilutions as recommended below. Store the vial at -20°C or below after dilution. Avoid cycles of freezing and thawing.
