Recombinant Mouse Complement factor B (Cfb) is produced through a mammalian expression system, which appears to ensure proper folding and post-translational modifications. This full-length mature protein spans amino acids 23 to 761. It carries a C-terminal 10xHis-tag that helps with purification. The protein reaches a purity level exceeding 95%, confirmed by SDS-PAGE. This product is designed strictly for research use and may be well-suited for scientists who need high-quality, recombinant proteins.
Complement factor B represents a critical component of the alternative pathway within the complement system. It likely plays a pivotal role in immune response. The protein participates in forming the C3 convertase complex, which seems essential for opsonization and lysis of pathogens. Researchers frequently study this protein for its involvement in innate immunity and its potential implications across various immune-related research fields.
Potential Applications
Note: The applications listed below are based on what we know about this protein's biological functions, published research, and experience from experts in the field. However, we haven't fully tested all of these applications ourselves yet. We'd recommend running some preliminary tests first to make sure they work for your specific research goals.
Based on the provided information, the recombinant mouse complement factor B is expressed in a mammalian cell system, which is highly advantageous for producing complex eukaryotic proteins like complement factors. Mammalian cells typically provide the appropriate environment for proper folding, disulfide bond formation, and necessary post-translational modifications (such as glycosylation) that are crucial for complement proteins. The expression of the full-length mature protein (23-761aa) further supports the potential for correct folding. While the protein's activity is unverified, the mammalian expression system significantly increases the probability that the protein is correctly folded and functional compared to prokaryotic or other heterologous systems. However, without direct activity validation, bioactivity cannot be guaranteed.
1. Complement Pathway Biochemical Assays
This application is highly appropriate but is entirely dependent on the protein being correctly folded and bioactive. The mammalian expression system makes it highly likely that the protein will function properly in complement pathway reconstitution experiments. However, since activity is unverified, initial experiments must include positive controls to confirm functionality (e.g., cleavage by factor D, C3 convertase formation) before drawing biological conclusions.
2. Protein-Protein Interaction Studies
The C-terminal His-tag enables pull-down assays. Given the mammalian expression system, the protein is likely properly folded, increasing confidence that identified interactions (e.g., with C3, factor D) will be physiological. The high purity minimizes background. This application is suitable, but as with all interaction studies, key findings should be verified using orthogonal methods.
3. Antibody Development and Validation
This is an excellent application for this reagent. The mammalian expression system likely produces a protein with native-like conformation, making it an ideal immunogen for generating antibodies that recognize the native protein in serum or tissues. The high purity is beneficial. This application can proceed with high confidence even without prior activity testing for the purpose of antibody generation.
4. Structural and Biophysical Characterization
The high purity and likelihood of proper folding make this protein well-suited for biophysical analyses. These studies can provide valuable information on the protein's native state. This application is highly appropriate and can also serve as a method to confirm folding quality (e.g., via circular dichroism to assess secondary structure).
5. Complement System Reconstitution Studies
This is a high-value application that is feasible due to the mammalian expression system. Incorporating this protein into reconstitution systems to study pathway regulation is justified. However, the system's performance should be benchmarked against known standards or serum-derived factor B to confirm functional equivalence, as activity is unverified.
Final Recommendation & Action Plan
Given the high likelihood of correct folding and functionality due to the mammalian expression system, this recombinant factor B is suitable for all the described applications. The recommended plan is to first perform a functional validation assay (e.g., testing its ability to be cleaved by factor D and form a functional C3 convertase) to confirm bioactivity. Once activity is verified, it can be confidently used in quantitative biochemical and reconstitution studies. For applications like antibody development and biophysical characterization, the protein can be used immediately with high confidence.
