Antibody catalog

What do scientists think about customer service at places like Novus, companies that sell the antibodies that are often critical components of a wide variety of experiments? Novus ran a survey to find out, and here's what we uncovered.

There is a clear disconnect between expectations of antibodies, and how they perform in real world experiments. Seventy percent of respondents said that they expected their antibodies to work every time, but only 35% reported that this is what actually happens.

The enzyme, aromatase, belongs to cytochrome P450 family of monooxygenases known for their key role in drug catabolism and cholesterol/steroid synthesis. Aromatase uses a heme-group as a co-factor to catalyze the formation of aromatic C18 estrogens from C19 androgens. This conversion includes that of testosterone into estradiol as well as androstenedione to estrone. Aromatase is a peripheral membrane protein.

Western blotting is a widely used technique for the detection and analysis of proteins based on their ability to bind to specific antibodies. It was first described by Towbin, et.al in 1979 and has since become one of the most commonly used methods in life science research. In Western blotting, a mixture of proteins is separated based on molecular weight, and thus by type, through gel electrophoresis. The proteins are visualized with antibodies specific to the target under investigation.

The protein ATF6 is a constitutively expressed transcription factor that is a key mediator of the unfolded protein response (UPR) that allows mammalian cells to maintain cellular homeostasis under conditions of environmental and physiological stress. ATF6 is endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-anchored in its inactive form, and under certain stress conditions, translocates to the Golgi where it is processed into its active form through action of the S1P and S2P proteases.

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes are key gatekeeper molecules that regulate the amount of dietary cholesterol retained by the body. They are a multifamily comprised of cAMP-dependent anion transporter cell membrane proteins that monitor reverse cholesterol efflux from cells into the peripheral tissues via apolipoprotein A-I (Apo). ABCG8 is expressed at high levels in the liver and intestine.

The CIP2A protein was originally identified as p90, a cytoplasmic auto-antigen from the serum of a cancer patient. It was later found to inhibit protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity as well as interact with c-myc. CIP2A's inhibitory activity blocks c-myc phosphorylation and its subsequent proteolytic degradation, producing a stable c-myc that promotes aberrant cell growth and transformation. In addition to its role in c-Myc stabilization, CIP2A promotes anchorage-independent cell growth and in vivo tumor formation.

The enzyme S-adenosylmethionine synthetase, or MAT, catalyzes the formation of S- adenosylmethionine (AdoMet or SAMe) from methionine and ATP. AdoMet is the principal biological source of synthesized methyl, and is found in all cells but most prominently in the liver. In mammalian tissues, there are three distinct AdoMet synthases - the alpha, beta, and gamma isoforms. While the alpha and beta variants are uniquely expressed solely in the adult liver, gamma is more widely distributed in the extrahepatic tissues.

The protein, carbonic anhydrase IX, belongs to the carbonic anhydrase family which consists of enzymes that rapidly convert carbon dioxide and water into the end products of carbonic acid, protons, and bicarbonate ions. These enzymes play a widespread role in cells by regulating the pH of normal tissues, and are abundantly expressed in all mammalian tissues. Due to its stability and membrane location, CAIX is one of the most hypoxically-inducible genes, and has become a reliable hypoxia histochemical marker.

Also known as OPG, TR1 and OCIF, this gene encodes Osteoprotegerin, a heparin-binding secretory glycoprotein that belongs to the TNF-receptor superfamily. The TNFR superfamily consists primarily of transmembrane proteins that elicit signal transduction in a variety of cells and are known to mediate diverse biological responses, including cytotoxicity and apoptosis, Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was isolated independently by two laboratories in 1997 [1,2].

SR-B1 belongs to the CD36 scavenger receptor family and serves as a receptor for several ligands including phospholipids, cholesterol ester, lipoproteins, phosphatidylserine, and caveolae localized HDL. It is expressed in endothelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. It facilitates the flux of both free and esterified cholesterol between the cell surface and extracellular donors and acceptors (HDL and to a lesser extent, apoB-containing lipoproteins and modified lipoproteins).