Rat Alpha-2-Macroglobulin Recombinant mAb (SDT-2944-41)

Rat Alpha-2-Macroglobulin (A2M) is a large, multifunctional plasma glycoprotein belonging to the alpha-2-macroglobulin family of protease inhibitors, primarily synthesized by hepatocytes in the liver and serving as a critical component of the innate immune system and acute-phase response. Structurally characterized as a homotetramer with a molecular weight of approximately 720–800 kDa, it functions through a unique "trap" mechanism wherein the bait region of the protein is cleaved by target proteases, triggering a profound conformational change that encapsulates the enzyme and exposes receptor-binding domains, thereby inhibiting the protease's activity against high-molecular-weight substrates while facilitating its rapid clearance via the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1). Beyond its role as a broad-spectrum endopeptidase inhibitor regulating processes such as blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, and complement activation, rat A2M acts as a carrier for various cytokines, growth factors, and hormones, modulating their bioavailability and half-life, and plays significant parts in tissue remodeling, wound healing, and neuroprotection, making it an essential subject in biomedical research for understanding inflammatory pathways, fibrosis, and neurological disorders in rodent models.