Antibody News

Cyanine dyes are members of the polymethine synthetic dye family historically used to increase photographic emulsion sensitivity. Cyanine dyes have versatile applications and are commonly used as fluorescent labels for proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. They are particularly suited for biomedical imaging, protein-protein interactions, proteomics, and transcriptomics. Different variants have distinctive spectral properties – for example, Cyanine dye 7 (Cy7) has a strong absorption peak at 747nm while Cyanine dye 5.5 (Cy5.5) has a strong absorption peak at 675nm. Lightning-Link Cy Antibody Labeling kits are highly-controlled, sophisticated yet fast conjugation systems that simplify immunoassay techniques (Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry). The cyanine antibody  was employed to compare the performance and reliability of fluorescent-linked...

CD56 is a member of the Ig super family and comprises five Ig-like domains and two extracellular fibronectin-type III domains. It is expressed as three major isoforms within the nervous system, on NK cells, and a specific set of T-cells. CD56+ NK and T-cells are unique in their ability to mediate cell-mediated cytotoxicity against certain tumor cell targets without MHC restriction. Other CD56 physiological functions include: mediating cell adhesion, triggering neurite extension and migration, and brain synapse formation. CD56 is also crucial for neuronal development and plasticity in the adult brain. It is used as a tumor marker in various cancers (NK lymphomas and Merkel cell carcinoma). As another member of the Ig super family superfamily, NCAM1 consists of five extracellular Ig-like domains and two fibronectin type III domains. It has at least 20-30 distinct isoforms due to alternative splicing and sialylation posttranslational modifications.

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

Download our ovarian cancer infographic

References:

1. Cancer.org 
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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. GFP fluorescence is stable under standard fixation conditions and suitable for a huge variety of applications. Due to all of these advantages, GFP has been widely used as a gene expression reporter and tag, enabling researchers to visualize and localize proteins within living cells without the extra burden or complication of staining.

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. In addition, CNS subventricular zones consisting of neuronal and glial precursor cells exhibit transient beta III expression, where it may enable the identification of presumptive neurons derived from embryonic stem cells. In contrast, Beta III distribution is almost exclusively neuron-specific in adult tissues. Researchers published in Cell share their findings that the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret is required for motor axon attraction by integrating diffusible- and contact-axon guidance signaling in a hierarchical GPI-receptor signaling system¹.

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. Defects in the enzyme cause glycogen storage disease type I (von Gierke disease). Not surprisingly, G6PC is localized mainly in the liver and kidneys.  It is unique in that it is membrane-bound, unlike most other enzymes that act upon water soluble substrates.

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.

The essential biologic properties of VWF have been explicated, particularly in the areas of genetic regulation, biosynthesis, and specific bimolecular interactions. The three-dimensional structure of selected domains has been solved, but our understanding of detailed structure-function relationships is still fragmented because of the complexity and size of the VWF molecule. The biomechanical properties of the interaction between the VWF A1 domain and...

Viral infection triggers the antiviral cell response by activating the innate cellular immune system that recognizes various viral components. One component of this process is the cytoplasmic helicase RIG-1 which is a pattern recognition receptor. Like toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), RIG-1 recognizes double-stranded (ds) RNA, but unlike TLR3, RIG-1 activates tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon (IKKepsilon) through the adaptor protein known as interferon-beta promoter stimulator 1 (IPS-1). This kinase cascade ultimately phosphorylates the transcription factors interferon regulatory factors 3 and 7 (IRF-3, IRF-7, respectively). Both of these are essential for type-I interferon expression. Not surprisingly, RIG-1 is required for interferon production in response to RNA viruses (paramyxoviruses, influenza virus, and Japanese encephalitis virus, among...

The SOX-11 transcription factor is a member of the SOX family known to be involved in embryonic development regulation and cell fate determination. The protein acts as a transcriptional regulator and appears to modulate fundamental aspects of normal embryonic nervous system development and tumorigenesis. SOX-11 is not found expressed in adult tissues except for the adult immature neuron. Ek's group in Sweden employed the SOX11 antibody to develop signatures comprised of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)-associated genes through a comprehensive expression analysis of both normal and malignant B-cells¹. These profiles were created to identify diagnostic and therapeutic targets that are efficient, genome-based modalities for this aggressive lymphoid malignancy. Additional studies that surveyed a wider range of lymphomas relied upon SOX11 antibody immunohistochemistry and widened the prognostic value of...

AP-endonuclease (APE1/Ref-1) is an essential multifunctional protein involved in the repair of oxidative DNA damage as well as in transcriptional regulation in tumor cells. It functions as an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endodeoxyribonuclease in the DNA base excision repair (BER) pathway of DNA lesions, and may also play a role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and the protection from granzymes-mediated cellular repair leading to cell death. APE1 is involved in calcium-dependent down-regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) expression by binding to negative calcium response elements (nCaREs).

Melphalan resistance has been considered one of the major obstacles to improve outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) therapy. A study using Novus’ APE1 antibody, NB100-116, has shown that the acetylation modification of APE1 is involved in melphalan resistance of MM cells and has also shed light on...

Bone morphogenetic proteins such as GDF15 belong to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB) family that directs tissue differentiation and maintenance. GDF15 appears to be involved in a variety of physiological processes such as pregnancy, injury and inflammation, and apoptosis. Evidence suggests GDF15 is a marker for metastasis. A Swiss group profiled expression of GDF15 via RT-PCR and immunoblotting with the GDF15 antibody in mouse and human glioma cell lines to better correlate tumor grade with proliferative capability and immunogenicity¹. Their data clearly showed that endogenous levels of GDF15 cause proliferation and immune escape of glioma cells. Tabrizi et al performed similar profiling studies with the GDF15 antibody in primary ovarian mucinous carcinomas of the intestine². Based on their studies, they suggest that current and updated diagnostic criteria and standards...