• Purity

  >95%, by SDS-PAGE visualized with Silver Staining and quantitative densitometry by Coomassie® Blue Staining

• Endotoxin Level

  <0.10 EU per 1 μg of the protein by the LAL method.  

• Activity

  Measured by its ability to inhibit APRIL-mediated proliferation of anti-IgM stimulated mouse B cells. Moore, P.A.     et al. (1999) Science     285:260; Gross, J.A.     et al. (2000) Nature     404:995; Schneider, P.     et al. (1999) J. Exp. Med.     189:1747. The ED    ₅₀ for this effect is 0.01-0.04 µg/mL in the presence of 100 ng/mL of rhAPRIL.

• Source

  Mouse myeloma cell line, NS0-derived

  Human BCMA (Met1-Ala54) Accession # Q6PE46	IEGRMD	Human IgG1 (Pro100-Lys330)
  N-terminus		C-terminus

• Accession #

• N-terminal Sequence    
  Analysis

  Met1

• Structure / Form

  Disulfide-linked homodimer

• Predicted Molecular Mass

  32 kDa (monomer)

• SDS-PAGE

  35-45 kDa, reducing conditions

Background: BCMA/TNFRSF17

BCMA, B cell maturation antigen, is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily. It has been designated TNFRSF17. BCMA is a type III membrane protein containing one extracellular cysteine rich domain. Within the TNFRSF, it shares the highest homology with TACI. BCMA and TACI have both been shown to bind to APRIL and BAFF, members of the TNF ligand superfamily. BCMA expression has been found in immune organs and mature B cell lines. Although some expression has been observed at the cell surface, BCMA appears to be localized to the Golgi compartment. The binding of BCMA to APRIL or BAFF has been shown to stimulate IgM production in peripheral blood B cells and increase the survival of cultured B cells. This data suggests that BCMA may play an important role in B cell development, function and regulation. Human BCMA is a 184 amino acid (aa) protein consisting of a 54 aa extracellular domain, a 23 aa transmembrane domain, and a 107 aa intracellular domain. Mouse and human BCMA share 62% amino acid identity.

• References:

1. Madry, C. et al. (1998) Int. Immunol. 10:1693.

2. Gras, M. et al. (1995) Int. Immunol. 7:1093.

3. Kwon, B. et al. (1999) Curr. Opin. Immunol. 11:340.

4. Marsters, S. et al. (2000) Curr. Biol. 10:785.

5. Thompson, J. et al. (2000) J. Exp. Med. 192:129.

• Long Name:

  B Cell Maturation Factor

• Entrez Gene IDs:

  608 (Human); 21935 (Mouse); 287034 (Rat); 102145399 (Cynomolgus Monkey)

• Alternate Names:

  B cell maturation antigen; B-cell maturation protein; BCMA; BCMAtumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 17; BCMB-cell maturation factor; CD269 antigen; CD269; TNFRSF17; tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 17