Antibody News

Transferrin, an iron binding protein that facilitates iron uptake in cells, is an integral part of a mechanism that may introduce antibody therapies to the central nervous system. Currently, the brain’s ability to take in antibody therapies is limited by the presence of the blood brain barrier. While novel mechanisms to manipulate the transfer of important proteins and antibodies across the BBB have been tested, endogenous receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) is one mechanism of particular interest.  Iron transfer is achieved when transferrin bound iron connects with the transferrin receptor, and iron subsequently enters the cell by way of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.  Once inside the cell, transferrin is trafficked to early endosomes, where the iron is dropped off.  After iron delivery, transferrin is directed to recycling endosomes to be brought back to the cell surface.  Using this pathway to deliver therapeutic antibodies across the BBB has shown both...

Exosomes are spherical to cup-shaped bilayered membrane enclosed nanosize vesicles (30-100 nm) which have the ability to shuttle active cargoes between cells. Johnstone et al. 1987 pioneered in documenting the generation of exosomes in differentiating reticulocytes as a result of the fusion of multi-vesicular endosomes/MVBs with the plasma membrane. However, later studies established that exosomes are actively secreted by almost all types of cells through the process of exocytosis and that exosomes can be found in most of the body fluids (blood, saliva, semen and urine). Structurally, exosomes contain various types of biomolecules (lipids, proteins, DNA, RNA etc.) from the parent cells, and the bacterial/viral proteins or nuclear acids in infected cells. Exosomes act as signalosomes and facilitate intercellular communication through delivering bioactive molecules (Tran et al. 2015)

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a crucial enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine in the brain.  Specifically, TH catalyzes the conversion of l-tyrosine to l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-dopa).  The importance of tyrosine hydroxylase was established early on in when Zhou et al found that TH deficient mice had a lethal phenotype.  While TH is vital to neurotransmitter and neural hormone development, mutations in TH are not solely responsible for Parkinson’s disease (PD).  In fact, mutations in the LRRK2 gene and marked loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra are the hallmark signs of PD. However, mutations in TH lead to dystonia DOPA-responsive autosomal recessive disorder, also known as autosomal recessive Segawa syndrome. Using a TH antibody in Parkinson’s research is an effective and popular way to monitor...

The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins is involved in a number of developmental processes, one of which is the development of cancer. Past data suggests that the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) receptor is composed of two transmembrane proteins, Patched and Smoothened.  The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is vital to the development of many tissues during embryogenesis, however, it also has an important role after development.  After development, Hh signaling regulates stem cells and their regenerative function.  When the Hh pathway is awry, signaling may turn oncogenic in nature. This has been witnessed in interactions between Patched and Smoothened, where Patch inhibits the function of Smoothened.  When normal Smoothened activity is restricted or mutated, it can cause unregulated activation of the Hh pathway which leads to cancer.  This post will delve into research using a Smoothened antibody to further elucidate its role...

xCT is a sodium independent glutamate transporter that regulates the exchange of extracellular l-cystine and intracellular l-glutamate across the plasma membrane. This process is critical to glutathione production and protection from subsequent oxidative stress. Aside from its standard function, xCT participates in a variety of central nervous system (CNS) functions, including formation of the blood–brain barrier, involvement in drug addiction pathways, neurodegeneration caused by lack of oxidative stress protection, and more.  xCT is primarily localized to neurons and glia in the CNS, which is considering its role in glutathione production and efficacy, given that there are an abundance of enzymes and metabolites that can generate reactive oxygen species in these areas.

xCT Antibody...

Epigenetics is the study of heritable change in gene activity despite alteration of the hosts DNA sequence.  Change in gene activity done independently of the DNA sequence is achieved by way of histone and DNA methylation.  Gene silencing in DNA methylation is carried out by DNA methyltransferases 1, 2 and 3a/b (DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A/B). On a broad level, DNMTs methylate the fifth carbon of cytosine residues in DNA within CG dinucleotides. However, DNMT3 on its own is a de novo methyltransferase required for the establishment of genomic methylation patterns during development and reproduction. Studies on the structure of DNMT3 have revealed that DNMT3A and DNMT3B are highly similar in that they both contain a PWWP domain, a PHD-like ADD domain and a catalytic domain. What’s more, the catalytic activities of DNMT3A and DNMT3B have been shown to be attracted to...

Telomeres are a region of repeat nucleotide sequences located at the end of chromosomes to protect our DNA from becoming damaged via end-to-end fusion.  TERF2, or telomeric-repeat binding factor 2, is important for telomere integrity and aids in the formation of the telosome, the telomeric loop, and control of the amount of DNA needed for telomere replication.  When TERF2 is down regulated, an induction of apoptosis and senescence is also witnessed.  TERF2 also interacts with an abundance of proteins in all of the above pathways, including RAP1, Apollo, TOP1, TOP2A and TOP2B.  The visualization of telomeres on chromosomal structures through immunofluorescence (IF) is an important diagnostic tool and is examined more closely in the following research projects using a Novus Biologicals TRF-2 Antibody (NB100-56506).

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Autophagy is an essential process that maintains cellular homeostasis and carries out lysosome-mediated degradation of unwanted proteins in the cytoplasm.  Because of this regulatory function, autophagy is often examined when looking at disease pathways.  While our immune system initiates the removal of viruses and pathogens through the autophagic pathway, viruses, such as HIV, have developed a way to evade this process through inhibition.  Therefore, developing a reliable way to examine the molecular process of this inhibition and interaction is very desired.  The central autophagy protein, Beclin 1, became a quick target to create an autophagy manipulation factor and ultimately lead to the formation of an autophagy inducing peptide. Novus Biologicals carries three new isoforms of the Tat-beclin-1 peptide in the form of Tat-Beclin 1 D11 (NBP2-49888),...

Mitosis, the process of cell division, involves unique interactions between spindle microtubules and chromosomes, which are regulated by protein structures located on chromosomes known as kinetochores.  CENPF is a kinetochore-associated protein that is localized to chromatin during the G2 and M phases of mitosis.  The main role of CENPF is to secure kinetochore proteins to the correct location surrounding the chromatid and centromere for proper function. Specifically, microtubule-dependent motor proteins work alongside the kinetochores to generate tension and ultimately power chromosomal movement. Outside of its role in cell division, CENPF also has a role in the regulation of the plasma membrane through its association with SNAP25 (a vesicle associated membrane protein).  Research has implicated a wide variety of proteins as regulators of kinetochore and chromatin dynamics; however, this article will review how a...

Our immune system is a powerful defense mechanism against infection, however different variables can cause our immune response to work for or against us.  CD3 (cluster of differentiation 3) is one component of our immune signal response that is composed of four distinct chains (CD3-g, CD3-e, CD3-s and the zeta chain). These chains associate with a molecule known as the T-cell receptor (TCR) to comprise the TCR complex. Broadly, CD3 is expressed in pro-thymocytes (stem cells where T cells arise in the thymus) in order to mediate signals that are critical for T cell development and function in response to foreign pathogens.

The CD3 (OKT3 Clone) antibody (Cat# NBP2-24867) specifically reacts with an epitope on the epsilon subunit, which plays a vital role in the creation of new T cells.  OKT3 has been found to illustrate immunosuppressive properties and...

Perilipin 2 belongs to the Perilipin family, which consists of proteins that coat intracellular lipid storage droplets. Perilipin 2 in particular is involved in lipid globule surface membrane composition, and has also been implicated in the development and maintenance of adipose tissue. Contrary to previous findings, Perilipin 2 is found in a variety of cells aside from adipocytes, ranging from fibroblasts to skin cells. Overall, perilipins regulate cellular lipid metabolism and homeostasis.  On the contrary, excess lipid stores are linked to both exercise and obese conditions.  Maintaining the correct balance of lipid storage is very important to avoid lipocytotoxicity and is the focus of obese and metabolism related pathologies. 

Perilipin-2/ADFP Antibody [NB110-40877] -...

Is has been established that the regulatory transcription factor FOXP3 (a member of the forkhead/winged-helix family of transcription factors) is imperative to immune system homeostasis through CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell function.  Distinctively, FOXP3 binds to specific regions of DNA to modulate the activity of genes that are involved in regulating the immune system.  Interruption of FOXP3 activity leads to autoimmune disorder, due to Treg cells not having their full ability to act as an immune system balancer.

However, it has also been shared that FOXP3 is also expressed and correlated to a number of cancer tissues. This does not come as a surprise, given that FOXP3 regulates a broad spectrum of target genes through histone modifications of target promoters.  The FOXP3 locus itself has CpG dinucleotides that are methylated in naïve CD4/CD25 T cells, activated CD4 T cells, and TGF induced adaptive Tregs.  Now, the FOXP3...