Thermo Scientific™ Imject™ mcKLH (in PBS), 5 x 20mg

Thermo Scientific™ Imject™ Mariculture KLH (mcKLH) is a purified keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) carrier protein, optimized for hapten conjugation and antibody production. It is an immunogenic carrier that facilitates effective antigen presentation in immunization protocols. KLH is widely recognized for its high molecular weight, complex structure, and strong immune-stimulating properties, making it the gold standard for antibody generation.

Imject mcKLH is specifically harvested from mariculture-grown keyhole limpets (Megathura crenulata) rather than wild-caught sources, ensuring sustainability and consistency in quality. This product is purified and stabilized in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), ready for use in crosslinking reactions with small antigens (haptens) for immunogen preparation.

Key Features & Benefits

✔ High Immunogenicity – Stronger immune response compared to BSA or ovalbumin.

✔ Validated Quality – Purified and stabilized to ensure high solubility and efficiency.

✔ Sustainable Source – Sourced from mariculture-grown keyhole limpets, reducing environmental impact.

✔ High-Yield Conjugation – Hundreds of primary amines available for coupling with haptens via EDC or NHS-ester crosslinkers.

✔ Versatile Conjugation Options – Can be coupled using carboxyl-reactive (EDC) or amine-reactive (NHS-ester) crosslinkers.

✔ Solubility & Stability – Lyophilized and optimized for aqueous solubility.

✔ Wide Application Use – Ideal for peptide antigen conjugation, immunization studies, and antibody production.

Applications

🔹 Hapten Carrier for Immunogen Preparation – Used in the conjugation of small antigens (haptens) to elicit a robust immune response.

🔹 Antibody Production – Facilitates the generation of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in mice, rabbits, and other animal models.

🔹 Vaccine Research – Supports preclinical vaccine development by enhancing antigenic presentation.

🔹 Autoimmune Disease & Inflammation Studies – Serves as an immune response activator in various research applications.

🔹 Cancer Immunotherapy – Used in tumor antigen research to develop cancer vaccines and immune-based therapies.

🔹 T-Cell Activation Studies – KLH is a potent activator of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and T-cell-mediated immune responses.

Carrier Protein & Hapten Conjugation

Carrier proteins, like KLH, are large, complex molecules that enhance the immunogenicity of small antigens (haptens). Since small antigens (e.g., peptides, drug molecules) cannot elicit a strong immune response alone, they must be conjugated to a carrier protein to become immunogenic.

Conjugation Methods:

🔸 EDC Crosslinking (Carbodiimide Reaction, for Carboxyl-Terminal Peptides)

🔸 NHS-Ester Crosslinking (for Amine-Terminal Peptides)

🔸 Maleimide Crosslinking (for Cysteine-Terminal Peptides, using Malemide-Activated mcKLH)

🔸 Glutaraldehyde Crosslinking (for General Conjugation Needs)

Crosslinking Considerations:

⚠ Ensure that key antigenic epitopes are not masked by conjugation.

⚠ Choose the appropriate crosslinking strategy to maintain antigen structure.

Usage Guidelines

📌 Preparation:

1. Reconstitute mcKLH in Milli-Q water or PBS to prepare a clear to turbid blue solution (10 mg/mL).
2. Select an appropriate hapten conjugation method (EDC, NHS-ester, Malemide, or glutaraldehyde).
3. Mix antigen/hapten and carrier protein at the recommended molar ratio for optimal conjugation.

📌 Injection Protocol for Immunization:

1. Mix mcKLH-antigen conjugate with an adjuvant (e.g., Freund’s Complete Adjuvant (FCA) for the first injection).
2. Inject subcutaneously or intramuscularly into the chosen animal model.
3. For booster injections, use Freund’s Incomplete Adjuvant (FIA).
4. Monitor antibody titers and collect sera for further analysis.

📌 Antibody Screening & Characterization:

✔ Perform ELISA, Western Blot (WB), or immunohistochemistry (IHC) to confirm specificity.

✔ Purify polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies using protein A/G affinity chromatography.

Storage & Stability

📦 Storage Temperature: 4°C (Refrigerated) upon receipt.

❄ Do not freeze, as freezing may affect the solubility and structural integrity of KLH.

⚠ Shelf Life: Long-term stability when stored properly.

Safety Considerations

⚠ For Research Use Only (RUO) – Not for Human or Clinical Use.

⚠ Use protective gloves, lab coats, and eye protection when handling.

⚠ Avoid excessive agitation to prevent protein degradation.

⚠ Dispose of waste according to laboratory safety protocols.

Related Products

🔹 Imject™ mcKLH Subunits, High Purity Research Grade – Alternative purified form for specific conjugation needs.

🔹 Imject™ EDC mcKLH Spin Kit – Ready-to-use conjugation kit for carboxyl-terminal peptides.

🔹 Imject™ Freund’s Complete Adjuvant (FCA) – For primary immunization with KLH-antigen conjugates.

🔹 Imject™ Freund’s Incomplete Adjuvant (FIA) – For booster injections to sustain antibody production.

Product Specifications

Thermo Scientific™ Imject™ Mariculture KLH is a high-quality, sustainable carrier protein designed for hapten conjugation and antibody production. With its high immunogenicity, diverse conjugation options, and wide applications in immunology research, it is a gold-standard choice for vaccine development, antibody generation, and immunological studies.