Collection: BSA / HSA

Albumin is synthesized in the liver as preproalbumin which has an N-terminal peptide that is removed before the nascent protein is released from the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The product, proalbumin, is in turn cleaved in the Golgi vesicles to produce the secreted albumin. Albumin is a soluble, monomeric protein which comprises about one-half of the blood serum protein. Albumin functions primarily as a carrier protein for steroids, fatty acids, and thyroid hormones and plays a role in stabilizing extracellular fluid volume.

Due to free hydrophobic regions, albumins are used to solubilize lipids and stabilize other proteins such as e.g. growth factors in tissue culture applications. They are also used as blocking agents in Western blots or ELISA applications and as a protein standard. Albumin has a low molecular weight, is easily soluble in water and contains an excess of acidic amino acids.