Antibody News

Recently, we at Novus Biologicals added a new phospho-MAP1B (phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein 1B) antibody to our antibody database. MAP1B is a developmentally regulated phosphoprotein thought to be involved in the assembly of microtubules, an essential part of neurogenesis.

Gene knockdown antibodystudies have shown MAP1B plays an important role in the function and development of the nervous system. It may regulate microtubule function, affecting neuronal differentiation and migration, axon growth and growth-cone function. Mutated MAP1B has been implicated in a range of neural disorders including Fragile X syndrome and giant axonal neuropathy.

Antibodystudies have shown MAP1B is phosphorylated by GSK3 beta (glycogen synthase kinase 3beta) at two sites - Thr1265 and Ser1260. Phospho-MAP1B antibody (also – curiously - known as SuperBUGS) detects...

As a top worldwide antibody supplier, we at Novus Biologicals are constantly extending our antibody database to take advantage of the latest technology and product developments. Recently, we added several embryonic stem cell marker antibodies, conjugated for use in FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) assays.

FACS involves the sorting of heterogeneous cell populations by use of antibodiestagged with fluorescent dyes, targeted to proteins specific to particular cell types. When excited by laser light, the dye fluoresces at a particular wavelength, allowing easy detection and isolation of the relevant cells.

Our antibodiesare tagged with a variety of fluorescent labels. This is because different applications have different types of laser. For example, the blue argon laser emits light in the blue/green spectrum at 488 nm. An air-cooled device, it is cheap to set up and run, and the...

We at Novus Biologicals have an extensive antibody databasedevoted to the 13 Fanconi anaemia complementation (FANC) genes, which are involved in the recognition and repair of damaged DNA.

The core complex of 8 proteins (FANCA, B, C, E, F, G, L and M) are of particular interest to cancer groups, as defects in these proteins are known to cause Fanconi's anemia, which carries a higher risk of cancer developing. The complex is also associated with the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2. Recently, we extended our antibody catalog with the addition of several SDIX GAT (Genome Antibody Technology) reagents.

The G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family constitutes one of the largest protein families in the mammalian kingdom, with over 800 proteins so far discovered. Our GPCR antibody catalog covers all 6 classes, with antibodies raised against Metabotropic Glutamate/Pheromone receptors; Rhodopsin-like receptors; Secretin receptors; Fungal Mating Pheromone receptors; cAMP receptors and Frizzled/Smoothened receptors. The majority are of the Class A (Rhodopsin-like) class.

GPCRs are a major focus for antibody suppliers. They are fundamental to many life processes, enabling cells to react to changes in their environment by activating intracellular signalling pathways (generally the cAMP or phosphatidylinositol signal transduction pathways), or by binding extracellular molecules (ligands.) Ligands include hormones, odors, neurotransmitters and light-sensitive chemicals.

We at Novus Biologicals have a large antibody database devoted to signalling pathways. These underpin every area of molecular biological research, including cancer. Among our cell signalling antibodies is one targeted to DLL4 (Delta-like protein 4). DLL4 is a homologue of the Drosophila delta gene, known to encode DSL-domain ligands on the Notch signaling pathway. It has been shown to play an important role in regulating the angiogenesis, especially those of malignant tumors.

For a tumor to grow beyond a few millimeters in size, new blood vessels must be grown, or the tumor cells will be starved of nutrients and oxygen. DLL4 plays an important role in this. When a new blood vessel begins to sprout from an existing one, DLL4 is expressed in the tip cells. This blocks neighboring cells from forming new...

Novus Biologicals recently added novel GAT (Genomic Antibody Technology) reagents to our antibody catalog, following the formation of a partnership with SDIX, creators of the technique. SDIX's GAT antibodies represent a totally new way to think about protein immunogens.

GAT utilises bioinformatic analysis to select the optimum amino acid sequence for the target protein. The science of bioinformatics, in which statistical computer programs are used to extract biological information from electronic data provided, has become enormously sophisticated since it was first developed in the 1970s, and is the perfect tool for Genomic Antibody Technology. SDIX's HAWK program chooses the optimal 100 aa sequence to create a native antigen.

Ago2, also called eIF2C2, antibody is one of 37 reagents targeted to the Argonaute protein family that we at Novus Biologicals have in our antibody catalogue. Argonaute proteins are encoded by genes which play an important role in regulating the control of gene expression by miRNA (microRNA). Recently, a new antibody study showed that the role of Ago2 may be to help generate production of miRNA, rather than simply moderate its function.

Micro RNAs are short, highly conserved RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to complementary 3’ UTR (three prime untranslated regions) of the relevant messenger RNA (mRNA). They were first described in 1993, but it was not until the 2000s that they were recognized as a distinct bio-regulatory group.

Recently, we at Novus Biologicals became partners with Strategic Diagnostics Inc (SDIX), one of the largest antibodyproducers in the US. The objective was to extend our antibody database by over 800 of SDIX's polyclonal cancer antibodies, created by their unique Genomic Antibody Technology (GAT) system, as well as creating novel GAT immunoglobulins against targets specific to our own antibody catalog. However, what exactly is GAT, and why is it so superior?

With ever more sophisticated assay testing and data retrieval techniques becoming established in the life sciences arena, it’s obvious the reagents must be of a similar quality. In cancer studies especially, it is alterations in protein structure which scientists are looking for. To separate potential oncogenes from normal, non-cancer causing proteins, it’s important that the targets for which antibodies are developed are as near their natural state as possible.

We at Novus Biologicals offer many antibodies relevant to cancer research. Among the areas covered by our antibody catalog are the nuclear matrix proteins, which include the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). hnRNP antibodies were recently used in a new study in gastric cancer treatment.

The nuclear matrix is a filamentous and complex network of proteins and RNA fibrils, comprising the fibrous nuclear lamina and numerous nuclear pores. The matrix acts to provide a structural framework for the organization of chromatin (the genetic component of the cell). Once thought to be a fairly static structure, antibodystudies have shown matrix proteins play a dynamic role, interacting freely with chromatin. HnRNP proteins, for example, are involved in various nuclear activities, including pre-mRNA processing, mRNA translation and transcription.

The human nuclear cell matrix has been shown to be tumor specific. The nuclear...

Base excision repair (BER) is the most fundamental DNA repair mechanism, dealing with alterations arising in individual DNA bases during cellular metabolism. We at Novus Biologicals have a large BER antibody database, which has proven important in various cellular studies.

BER has been shown to be the predominant repair mechanism in post-mitotic areas such as brain tissue. Here, modifications of single bases are far more likely to occur than large-scale damage to the DNA helix. Levels of base excision repair proteins have been shown to be elevated or altered in certain cancers, for example prostate cancer and brain tumors.

The two main routes of base excision repair are the long-patch and short-patch repair pathways. Both follow the same 4 basic steps, and although the protein pathways are independent of each other,...

Our antibody database at Novus Biologicals provides research tools for the forefront of cancer research. Recently, a mouse study using 53BP1 and BRCA1 antibodies showed that deletion of 53BP1 greatly lessened the incidence of tumor development in mice carrying the mutated BRCA1 gene.

The BRCA1 protein is important in the homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway, repairing the replication-associated chromosome breaks which can occur during cell division. If the HR pathway becomes inactive through BRCA1 mutation, the cell relies on alternative repair pathways. However, these are more mutagenic than BRCA1, and can cause formation of abnormal chromosome structures, increasing the risk of cancer. 53BP1 is a binding protein, known to localize to DNA repair sites, in particular double-strand breaks. However, it is not thought to be mutagenic.

A study carried out by...

We at Novus Biologicals have over 230 products in our antibody catalog devoted to nucleotide excision repair. NER is a multi-stage sequential process involving over 30 proteins, all of which have been widely studied. Being the primary method to repair DNA damage caused by agents ranging from UV radiation to chemotherapy drugs, our NER antibody database is widely used by cancer research groups.

The first stage of NER is damage recognition and demarcation. There are two main pathways: global genomic repair and transcription-coupled repair. Global repair involves the Xeroderma Pigmentosum complementing proteins XPC and DDB1 (XPE), and the RD23B–centrin 2 complex, which recognize the damage by forming a heterotrimeric complex. Transcription-coupled repair occurs in genes that are being actively transcribed by RNA pol II. The...