CRP
CRP (C-reactive protein, PTX1) is a secreted pentraxin involved in host defence. It binds phosphorylcholine in a calcium-dependent manner and its plasma level rises sharply during the acute phase response to tissue injury, infection or inflammation. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CRP research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CRP displays several functions associated with host defence. Through its calcium-dependent binding to phosphorylcholine, it promotes agglutination, bacterial capsular swelling, phagocytosis and complement fixation. It can also interact with DNA and histones, and may scavenge nuclear material released from damaged circulating cells. More broadly, it recognises foreign pathogens and damaged host cells and initiates their elimination by interacting with humoral and cellular effector systems in the blood.
The CRP gene encodes a member of the pentraxin family, which also includes serum amyloid P component and pentraxin 3. Pentraxins take part in complement activation and amplification through communication with complement initiation pattern recognition molecules, and in complement regulation through the recruitment of complement regulators. The CRP protein has a calcium-dependent ligand binding domain with a distinctive flattened beta-jellyroll structure. It exists in two forms: a pentamer in circulation and a nonsoluble monomer in tissues. HGNC classifies it among the short pentraxins and the pattern recognition pentraxins.
Plasma CRP increases greatly during the acute phase response to tissue injury, infection or other inflammatory stimuli, which is why it is widely studied in inflammation research. Elevated expression is also associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The gene was formerly named C-reactive protein, pentraxin-related, and PTX1 remains a recognised alias. Mouse and rat orthologs are both designated Crp.
CRP levels rise greatly in response to tissue injury, infection or other inflammatory stimuli, making it a central readout of the acute phase response.
Pentraxins such as CRP communicate with complement initiation molecules and recruit complement regulators, linking them to complement activation, amplification and regulation.
CRP binds phosphorylcholine to promote agglutination, phagocytosis and complement fixation, supporting studies of pathogen recognition and clearance.
Elevated CRP expression is associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, so the protein features in research on the host response to the virus.
CRP is a secreted pentraxin with several host defence functions. Binding phosphorylcholine in a calcium-dependent manner, it promotes agglutination, bacterial capsular swelling, phagocytosis and complement fixation. It can also interact with DNA and histones and may scavenge nuclear material released from damaged circulating cells.
CRP stands for C-reactive protein, with PTX1 as an alias and C-reactive protein, pentraxin-related as a previous name. The protein exists as a pentamer in circulation and as a nonsoluble monomer in tissues, according to the NCBI Gene summary.
Mouse and rat both have a Crp ortholog, so rodent models can be used in CRP research; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity. Human CRP expression rises during acute inflammation and is elevated in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Other pentraxins, complement components and acute phase markers that sit alongside CRP in inflammation and innate immunity research.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P02741; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.