Antibodies

Understanding the relationship between HIF-1 alpha, Hypoxia and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a natural process by which epithelial cells lose their polarity and intercellular adhesion, and gain the migratory invasive properties of mesenchymal stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types. EMT is critical to many developmental processes including embryo development and wound healing. However, EMT is also a fundamental step in the initiation of metastasis during cancer progression.

How DOPA Decarboxylase Affects Neurotransmitter Synthesis

DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) is responsible for catalyzing the conversion of aromatic amino acids into their corresponding amines during the synthesis of several important neurotransmitters. Specifically, DDC catalyzes the decarboxylation of L-DOPA to dopamine, L5-HTP to serotonin, L-histidine to histamine, phenylalanine to phenethylamine, L-tyrosine to tyramine, and tryptophan to tryptamine.

Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT) – a useful Immunohistochemical marker for morphological studies of neurons

Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT) is the enzyme that is responsible for biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The majority of acetylcholine is synthesized locally at nerve terminals where ChAT catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A to choline, a process that takes place in a single step.

The role of PARP-1 in the repair of single stranded break (SSB)

PARPs (poly ADP ribose polymerases) are DNA repair enzymes that promote single stranded break (SSB) repair by binding to DNA at the sites of SSBs and recruiting repair machinery. In humans, the PARP superfamily consists of 17 members, of which five play known roles in SSB repair. PARP-1, the most well-studied family member, is required for base excision repair and is thought to be responsible for 90% of PARP activity (5).

Using RPE65 as a tool to investigate ocular gene therapies

While not life threatening, blindness and retinal disease are profoundly debilitating and greatly affect quality of life.  Understandably, gene therapy has been subject to controversy given it’s potential effects on the rest of our cellular processes.  However, a genetically diseased eye being an isolated organ quickly becomes a promising prospect for such therapies.  Specifically, RPE antibodies are powerful diagnostic tools to test the viability of these clinical treatments. 

HIF-2 alpha: HIF1A's Homologue with Similar and Divergent Functions

HIF-2 alpha is a member of the heterodimeric hypoxia-inducible factors/HIFs family (HIF-1, HIF-2, and HIF-3) which contains a common beta subunit but differ in their alpha subunits.

IRE1 alpha dependent apoptotic-signaling pathway

Despite in depth characterization of the role of IRE1 alpha (inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha) in activating the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the ER - little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which this ER protein has shown to regulate intracellular calcium levels and subsequent apoptosis. Intracellular calcium homeostasis is fundamental to many physiological processes, and an increase in Ca2+ is associated with both the early and late stages of apoptosis.

Cleaved Caspase-3: A Marker of Programmed Cell Death

The subunit RelA(p65) mediates NF-kB signal transduction in multiple ways

RelA (also known as p65) is an NF-kB family member and a subunit of the NF-kB transcription factor complex.  The mammalian NF-kB family has five members (NF-kB1, NF-kB2, RelA (p65), RelB, and c-Rel), each of which contains an N-terminal Rel homology domain. Active NF-kB protein complexes are dimeric (hetero- or homo-), and are made up of two family members. NF-kB signaling is activated in response to many different types of stimuli and modulates transcription of numerous downstream targets.

Three things everyone studying autophagy should know

Novus Biologicals' antibodies are the gold standard to monitor autophagy and detect LC3 expression. The recently published Guidelines for the Use and Interpretation of Assays for Monitoring Autophagy (3rd Edition) comprehensively details methods to monitor autophagy in cell or tissue samples. Importantly, these guidelines also provide key considerations for data interpretation and tips to creating better western blot data.  

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