Neuroscience

The Sox2 antibody is widely used in sensory, neuroscience and stem cell marker research. Recently, Sox2 antibody preparations identified the Sox2 protein as a marker for malignant neural gliomas. We at Novus Biologicals offer a wide variety of highly validated Sox2 antibodies.

The MK167, or Ki67 antibody recognizes a nuclear protein encoded by the MK167 gene. Ki167 is involved with RNA transcription and essential to cellular proliferation, being expressed by proliferating cells at all stages of the active cell cycle; it is exclusively used as a marker for cellular proliferation.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to be important for neuronal differentiation, survival, migration and plasticity in both the developing embryo and adult synapses. The BDNF antibody is also proving to be an important tool in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research.

There are three human isoforms of the AKT gene, which plays a key role in several signalling pathways.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the NGF family of neurotrophins. During development it regulates the survival and differentiation of neuronal cell populations in the central and peripheral nervous system, while in adult synapses it is a major regulator of development, plasticity and transmission.

Neurofilaments (NFs) are intermediate filaments found almost exclusively in neuronal cells, and play an essential role supporting the cytoskeleton. In vertebrates they are composed of three intertwining polypeptide subunits of varying length and molecular weight – the 68kDa light, 160kDa medium and 200kDa heavy Neurofilament chains.

Identified almost two centuries ago, Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that afflicts an estimated 4-6 million worldwide (www.parkinsons.org). The prevalence of Parkinson's disease is expected to grow considerably as the average age of the population in developed countries increases.  Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars devoted annually to Parkinson's research, there is relatively little known about the disease and its treatment.

Nestin is a large class Vl intermediate filament protein predominantly expressed in the neuroepithelial stem cells of the embryonic central nervous system, although recent nestin antibody studies have shown it expressed in other cell types, including vascular endothelial cells. The first monoclonal nestin antibody was developed by Hockfield and McKay in 1985.

MECP2 antibodies are used in DNA methylation studies as well as research into Rett syndrome, a progressive neurological disorder caused by a mutation in the MECP2 gene. Now, a new study has been published by the laboratory where the Rett Syndrome gene was discovered, citing MECP2 as a critical factor in a number of other neurological conditions by its interaction with GABA.

The beta-arrestin family regulate receptor binding of G-proteins, a group of seven transmembrane receptor proteins which includes the adrenergic, dopamine and serotonin receptors. Recently, arrestin antibodies were used in a study into Serotonin Syndrome, a hallucinogenic disorder which can follow SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) use.