0 item(s)
View cart
You have no items in your shopping cart.
31
Jan
Ovalbumin (OVA): Structure, Immunology, and Research Uses
The versatile "workhorse" protein driving breakthroughs in vaccine development and cancer immunology.
Ovalbumin (OVA) is the most abundant protein in egg white. Beyond its nutritional profile, OVA has established itself as an indispensable experimental tool in biomedical research, serving as a model antigen for studying immune responses and a critical component in biopharmaceutical formulations.
01 Fundamental Properties
Definition
Commonly known as chicken egg white albumin, OVA represents approximately 55-65% of total egg white protein.
Molecular Structure
A 45 kDa glycoprotein comprising 385 amino acid residues, featuring a single heterogeneous N-linked oligosaccharide chain.
02 Key Applications in Research
• Biopharmaceutical Production
- Stabilizing Additive: Enhances the shelf-life and formulation stability of vaccines and biologics.
- Carrier Protein: Acts as a robust carrier for hapten conjugation to stimulate strong antibody production.
- Analytical Standard: Widely used as a molecular weight marker in SDS-PAGE and chromatography.
• Immunological Studies
As a well-characterized T cell–dependent antigen, OVA is the gold standard for studying:
DC Antigen Presentation CD4+ Helper T Cells CD8+ CTL Responses
03 | Cancer Immunotherapy Focus
OVA models are essential for evaluating novel immunotherapies. By using OVA-expressing tumor cells, researchers can precisely measure:
- MHC-TCR recognition mechanisms
- Immune cell tumor-killing efficiency
- Antigen-presenting cell (APC) interactions
Biofargo team
