Rabbit Human Factor XIII-A Antibody

Precipitating polyclonal rabbit antiserum to human coagulation Factor XIII-A. Plasma FXIII is an active transglutaminase until it is activated (FXIIIa). It consists of two A subunits joined as a dimer, connected to two B subunits (A2B2). Each A subunit has a molecular weight of 75,000 and each B subunit of 80,000, making an aggregate molecular weight of the whole molecule of 320,000. Normal plasma contains about 20mg/ml. Platelet FXIII consists of only A subunits synthesized in the megakaryocytes. It accounts for about 50% of the total blood FXIII activity with a linear relationship between FXIII level and platelet counts. Factor XIII-A reacts with both plasma and platelet FXIII. Antiserum raised against the B subunit (RAHu/FXIII-S) reacts exclusively with native and activated FXIIIa in plasma. FXIIIa results from activation of FXIII by thrombin after the release of fibrinopeptides A from fibrinogen. Highly purified FXIII-A is used for the immunization. Freund's complete adjuvant is used in the first step of the immunization procedure.