Antibodies

CD34 is a cell-surface glycoprotein type 1 transmembrane protein that belongs to the sialomucin family. CD34 comprises of an intracellular cytoplasmic domain with consensus sites for serine, threonine, tyrosine and active protein kinase C (PKC). Because it is differentially glycosylated within different cell types, it has a range of apparent molecular weight sizes. It is a marker for pluripotent hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells and has been extensively used to isolate and characterize these progenitor cells.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and brings to focus a cancer that is estimated to be diagnosed in over 21,000 women in the US in 2014 (1). Ovarian cancer often goes undiagnosed due to the lack of symptoms until it metastasized into the pelvic or abdominal areas. Treatment typically requires surgery and chemotherapy.

By: Lisa Ikariyama; Design: Kim Mesman

Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), also known as Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the M28 peptidase family. It acts as a glutamate carboxypeptidase on different substrates such as folate as well as the neuropeptide N-acetyl-l-aspartyl-l-glutamate. PSMA is expressed in a number of tissues including prostate, kidney, and both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Green fluorescence protein (GFP) is a 27KD protein derived from the jellyfish Aquorea victoria that emits a green light (emission peak at a wavelength of 509 nm) when excited by blue light (excitation peak at a wavelength of 395 nm). GFP is a highly versatile protein that has become an invaluable tool in cell biology research because of its intrinsic fluorescence without substrate requirement, ability to be visualized over time durations - both short- and long-term - in living cells, and short sequence making it easy to clone and use an unobtrusive tag.

ITGB1BP2 is a muscle-specific protein cloned by a rat created by Branccio's group in Italy that was found to interact with the cytoplasmic domain of integrin beta 1¹. It is expressed only in heart and skeletal muscle but is not essential for normal development and differentiation of these tissues. Branccio's group published a follow-up study in Nature Medicine using an ITGB1BP2 antibody that the protein plays a critical role in sensing mechanical stress due to pressure overloading².

The Beta III tubulin protein is abundantly present in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS), where it is predominantly expressed during fetal and postnatal development. In cerebellar and sympathoadrenal neurogenesis, Beta III distribution is neuron-associated and present in distinct temporal-spatial gradients that are dictated by the regional neuroepithelia of origin.

CD19 is a cell surface protein member of the large immunoglobulin superfamily that complexes with CD21, CD81, and CD225 in the membrane of mature B-cells. A major function of CD19 is to assemble with the antigen receptor of B-lymphocytes to decrease the threshold for receptor-dependent stimulation, thus enhancing the specificity and sensitivity of B-cells towards antigens. CD19 plays a large role in regulating B-cell growth.

The integral endoplasmic reticulum membrane-based enzyme G6PC hydrolyzes its substrate glucose-6-phosphate into glucose. Specifically, G6PC breaks down D-glucose 6-phosphate to D-glucose and orthophosphate. Because G6PC forms with the glucose-6-phosphate transporter (SLC37A4/G6PT), the resulting complex is responsible for glucose production. Thus, G6PC is the key enzyme in glucose homeostasis, functioning in both the processes of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.

CD14 is a well-characterized cell-activating receptor for lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and peptidoglycan. It is an important modulator for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-dependent signaling and is a component of the multi-protein complex containing also containing MD2 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). CD14 is an important component of the innate immune response preferentially expressed on mature cells of monocyte lineage. The CD14 protein contains eleven leucine-rich repeats (LRRs).

Human Von Willebrand Factor (factor VIII R: Ag) is a 270 kDa multimeric plasma gylcoprotein. Important in the maintenance of hemostasis, it mediates platelet adhesion to injured vessel walls and serves as a carrier and stabilizer for coagulation factor VIII. The Von Willebrand factor has functional binding domains to platelet glycoprotein Ib, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, collagen and heparin. The factor is synthesized by endothelial cells and is also present in platelets and megakaryocytes.