Merck, 11179179001, Collagen

General description
Collagens are abundantly present in vertebrates. 41 specific genes codes for 42 polypeptide chains and produce 27 collagen types. Collagens are mainly present in the extracellular matrix. Collagen type I is abundantly present in mammals. Type IV collagen is an important structural protein of basement membranes. It is chemically and genetically different from stroma collagen types I and III and cartilage collagen type II.
Application
Collagen is used as a substrate for culturing a variety of cells, such as coating of culture dishes and the preparation of collagen gels.
Collagen has been used in the preparation of coverslip coating solution and collagen gel contraction assay.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Active on most mammalian cells.
Collagen provides extracellular support for multicellular animals. Collagen type I offers mechanical stability, strength and toughness to a range of tissues from tendons and ligaments, to skin, cornea, bone and dentin.
Features and Benefits
Biological activity: Tested for the promotion of adherence of HUV-EC cells.
Contents
Lyophilizate, cell culture grade, 3 vials of 10mg
Preparation Note
Working concentration: 5 μg/cm²
5 μg/cm² for the coating of cell culture vessels; for the preparation of collagen gels, a final concentration of 2 to 3 mg/ml is used.
IFor best results, dissolve the lyophilizate in 0.2% acetic acid (v/v) solution.
For the preparation of collagen gels, the content of the bottle should be dissolved in 3.3 ml sterile 0.2% acetic acid (v/v) each. This results in a final concentration of 3 mg/ml.
For coating culture dishes the final concentration should be 1 to 2 mg/ml.
Note: For dissolving: do not stir, just pour the acetic acid onto the lyophilizate and allow it to stand for several hours until it has dissolved. To completely dissolve the product an incubation for up to a maximum of 24 hours at 15 to 25 °C may be required.

Reconstitution of the Collagen should be done at 15 to 25 °C, higher temperatures destroy the fibres and may prevent the subsequent gelation of the Collagen.
Other Notes
For life science research only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.