BSA

## General Information (more on wikipidia)

 Molecular Weight Density (g/L) Radius (m) Reference Species Bovine serum albumin 66.430 kDa 1320 $3 \ 10^{-9}$ [2] [1]

Bovine serum albumin, Bovine Albumin, BSA: A serum albumin protein that can be used as a diluent or a blocking agent in numerous applications including ELISAs (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), blots and immunohistochemistry. It is also used as a nutrient in cell and microbial culture. In restriction digests, BSA is used to stabilize some enzymes during digestion of DNA and to prevent adhesion of the enzyme to reaction tubes and other vessels. This protein does not affect other enzymes that do not need it for stabilization. BSA is used because of its stability, its lack of effect in many biochemical reactions, and its low cost since it is readily available in large quantities as it is purified from bovine blood, a byproduct of the beef industry.

## Diffusion of BSA in water:

• Alone : $D = 71 \ \mu m^{2} s^{-1}$ (calculated from the stokes equation)
• FITC-BSA : $D = 60.7 \ \mu m^{2} s^{-1}$ [1]

## Diffusion of BSA in cellular matrix:

Bibliography
1. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 85, No. 9. (May 1, 1988), pp. 2984-2988
2. J. Gutenwik, B. Nilsson and A. Axelsson, Biochem Eng J, 2004, 19, 1–7.