Gibco™ Collagen I, rat tail

Catalog No.	Quantity
A1048301	25 mL

Catalog No. A1048301 Supplier Gibco™ Supplier No. A1048301

Description

Collagen I Rat Protein, Tail

Collagen I, Rat Tail is the most common fibrillar collagen (90%) found in skin, bone, tendons, and other connective tissues. It is supplied at ~4 mg/mL in 20 mM acetic acid, providing the flexibility to dilute to lower concentrations. (See Certificate of Analysis for exact concentration.) The detailed gelling procedure forms a firm, clear gel for 3D applications.

Collagen is a fibrous protein that consists of three α-chains that can combine to form a rope-like triple helix, providing tensile strength to the extracellular matrix (ECM) where it plays a key role in cell growth, differentiation, attachment, and cell migration. The α-chains contain GXY repeats. Glycine (G) is a small amino acid that fits well in the triple helix. X and Y are typically proline and hydroxyproline, which is critical for collagen stability. Type I is the most common fibrillar collagen (90%) and is mostly found in skin, bone, tendons, and other connective tissues.

Rat tail collagen I can be prepared as a clear gel providing a 3D matrix or surface coated on tissue culture plates as a substrate for culturing primary cells such as keratinocytes and hepatocytes.

Specifications

• Concentration: 4 mg/mL
• For Use With (Application): Cell Culture
• Quantity: 25 mL
• Product Type: Collagen
• Species: Rat
• Content And Storage: Store in refrigerator (2–8°C) and protect from light.
• Endotoxin Level: ≤10 EU/mL, ≤ 10 EU/mL
• Shipping Condition: Wet Ice
• Protein Form: Native
• Form: Liquid
• Protein Subtype: Collagen
• Research Category: Extracellular Matrix & Cell Adhesion
• Product Line: Gibco

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do the following compounds help cells attach in culture - collagen, gelatin, hydrated collagen, matrigel, poly-L-ornithine, poly-L-lysine, and poly-D-lysine?

The polystyrene that culture flasks are made of tends to have a negative charge. Many cell types will still attach because the plasticware is treated in a way to make them hydrophilic. However cell types that do not attach well to the plastic, or are grown in medium with little or no serum protein, will attach better if the plastic is coated with a protein/polymer which has an overall positive charge.

Is the Collagen I, rat tail (Cat. No. A1048301) pepsin-digested?

No, the Collagen I, rat tail is not pepsin-digested.

Do you have an alternative for the discontinued Coating Matrix Kit Protein (Cat. No. R011K)?

Unfortunately, we do not have an animal-origin-free alternative for the Coating Matrix Kit Protein (Cat. No. R011K).However, we offer Rat or Bovine collagen that can be used as coating matrices. Please see the product pages linked below:

Collagen I, bovine (Cat. No. A1064401)

Collagen I, rat tail (Cat. No. A1048301)

Do you offer an alternative product for Collagen I, rat tail (Cat. No. A1048301), that can be prepared as a clear liquid gel for coating tissue culture plates?

An alternative for Collagen I, rat tail (Cat. No A1048301) is Collagen I, bovine (Cat. No A1064401). While the source of Collagen I is different, they can both be prepared as a clear gel providing a 3D matrix or surface coating on tissue culture plates as a substrate for culturing primary cells such as keratinocytes and hepatocytes.

I would like to use Collagen I Rat Protein, Tail (Cat. No. A1048301) for coating cell culture dishes. In the first step of the thin coating protocol, what should I use to dilute the 17.4 M acetic acid stock solution to 20 mM?

You can just use water to dilute the acetic acid stock solution to 20 mM.

I would like to use Collagen I Rat Protein, Tail (Cat. No. A1048301) for coating cell culture dishes for growth of cardiac fibroblasts. Can you please provide a coating protocol?

For your application, the thin coating procedure should be fine at a starting concentration of 5 µg/cm². You can dilute the collagen in 20 mM acetic acid to the volume needed. Coat the surface, incubate 1 hour at room temp, aspirate the solution, rinse 3 times with PBS, and use or store plates.

See the manual (https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/LSG/manuals/Collagen_I_rat_tail_PI.pdf) for details.

Why does rat tail collagen not form a gel?

The pH of the diluted rat tail collagen will determine whether the rat tail collagen is a liquid or a gel. A pH of 5 or below will not form any gel. If the pH is above 8, the collagen will not form a gel but will precipitate in small particles. A good gel can be formed at pH between 6.5 and 7.5.

What is the molecular weight for rat tail collagen I?

The molecular weight is 300 kDa.

Is collagen I provided lyophilized or as a liquid? What is the buffer composition if it is a liquid?

Collagen I is provided as a liquid, suspended in 20 mM acetic acid solution. If difficulties are encountered with the preparation, the collagen can be diluted in 1:2, first in 20 mM acetic acid, pH 3.5 before further diluting according to the protocol being used.

What can be used to detach cells from plates when coated with a thin layer of collagen I?

Enzymes that can be used include: Gibco TrypLE Express Enzyme, Gibco TrypLE Select Enzyme, or Gibco StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent.

What cell types are most commonly cultured in collagen I?

The following cell types are commonly cultured in collagen I:

- Endothelial cells (including HUVEC)
- Fibroblasts
- Hepatocytes
- Chondrocytes
- Osteoclasts
- Osteoblasts
- Keratinocytes
- Corneal epithelium

How is collagen I used?

The key applications include the following:

- Collagen I induces microvascular endothelial cells to adopt a spindle-shaped morphology, in vitro, and to align into solid cord-like assemblies. Vascular endothelial cells can also form vessel-like, tubular structures when cultured on collagen I. Collagen I can be used for in vitro angiogenesis assays.
- Breast cancer stem cells can undergo differentiation when cultured on collagen I.
- Collagen I has been used for the culture of primary colon carcinoma cell lines; mouse liver progenitor cells have been cultured in 3D collagen I and rat pancreatic islets.
- Collagen I can act as a barrier in cell invasion assays, and has been used to study cell adhesion.

What are some general differences between Gibco Geltrex Matrix, collagen, AlgiMatrix 3D Culture System, and CTS Cellstart Substrate?

Gibco Geltrex Matrix and collagen (rat tail and bovine) can be used as either a coating solution or a 3D gel matrix. CELLstart Substrate was developed to be used as a xeno-free coating matrix for only ESC applications (as a substitute for Gibco Geltrex Matrix or Matrigel Matrix, which are of animal origin). AlgiMatrix Matrix is a 3D scaffold-type matrix that does not support cell attachment but does provide a good environment for growing spheroids that can be easily harvested for downstream applications.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.