Application

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) is a strong and well known immune-stimulant in both experimental animals and humans. It has been used as a hapten carrier protein to enhance antigen-specific T cell priming and is known to stimulate a CD4⁺ T-cell response.Hemocyanin was used to study if antipeptide antibodies specifically recognize the l1 protein of the human papilloma virus of type 31. It was also used to study the acid-induced unfolding of didecameric keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

General description

Hemocyanin is a high molecular weight copper containing glycoprotein. It reversibly binds oxygen and forms the extra-cellular respiratory protein of mollusks. Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) is filtered from the hemolymph of Megathura crenulata, also called the giant keyhole limpet. It is native to the southern California coast and Mexico.

Gastropod hemocyanins are massive glycoproteins (4 to 8 MDa) designed by an intricate arrangement of 10 subunits that are self-assembled into hollow cylinders 35 nm in diameter.

Physical form

Solution in PBS, pH 7.2, containing 1mM CaCl₂ and 0.5 mM MgCl₂ with 15 mM sodium azide as preservative

Preparation Note

Chromatographically purified.