Recombinant Rat Osteocalcin (Bglap) is expressed in E. coli and includes an N-terminal GST tag that makes purification more straightforward. The protein contains the full length of mature osteocalcin—specifically the 50-99 amino acid region. SDS-PAGE analysis confirms purity levels above 90%, suggesting this is a reliable reagent for research work. Endotoxin levels are kept low, which appears to make it suitable for different experimental approaches.
Osteocalcin, sometimes called bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein, seems to play a central role in how bones metabolize and mineralize. Osteoblasts produce this protein, and it likely helps regulate bone formation and calcium ion balance. Many researchers study osteocalcin as a marker of bone turnover, making it an attractive target for investigations into bone health and metabolic diseases.
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.
1. Antibody Development and Validation
This recombinant rat osteocalcin may work well as an immunogen for creating polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies that target rat osteocalcin specifically. The N-terminal GST tag should help with purification and attachment during immunization procedures. The >90% purity probably reduces unwanted cross-reactions with other proteins when making antibodies. Researchers can then test these antibodies using the same recombinant protein in ELISA, Western blot, and similar immunoassays.
2. GST Pull-Down Assays for Protein-Protein Interactions
The N-terminal GST tag allows researchers to use this protein directly in GST pull-down experiments to find possible binding partners of rat osteocalcin. Scientists can attach the protein to glutathione-sepharose beads and mix it with cell lysates or purified protein collections. This method might reveal how osteocalcin interacts with other molecules in bone metabolism pathways. The high purity should reduce background noise from contaminating proteins.
3. Competitive Binding Studies and ELISA Development
This recombinant protein could function as a standard or competitor in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays focused on osteocalcin research. The known concentration and high purity make it potentially useful for creating standard curves in quantitative ELISA protocols. Researchers might also use it to test how specific existing anti-osteocalcin antibodies really are through competitive inhibition experiments. If needed, the GST tag provides a way to orient the protein properly on ELISA plates.
4. Biochemical Characterization and Stability Studies
The purified recombinant rat osteocalcin opens up possibilities for detailed biochemical analysis—things like confirming molecular weight, testing thermal stability, and checking pH tolerance. Scientists can examine how the protein behaves in different buffer conditions and storage situations. The high purity level should allow for precise spectroscopic measurements and biophysical analysis. These investigations may provide basic data that helps researchers understand osteocalcin's properties in various research settings.
