Now Available: IGFLs & IGFLR1 - Latest Members of the TNF Superfamily

AdipoGen™ now provide IGFLs & IGFLR1 research reagents - the Newest members of the TNF Superfamily. What do we know about IGFLs & IGFLR1 so far?

1) The new insulin-growth factor-like gene family consists of four proteins in humans (hIGFL1-4) and one in mice (mIGFL).

2) mIGFL is expressed in normal skin and upregulated during inflammation.

3) hIGFL1 expression is increased in human psoriatic skin.

4) mIGFL and hIGFL1/-3 interact specifically and with high affinity to IGFLR1, a new TNFR Family Member.

5) IGFLR1 potentially exerts regulatory functions on T cell responses.

Read more about IGFL here: Murine insulin growth factor-like (IGFL) and human IGFL1 proteins are induced in inflammatory skin conditions and bind to a novel tumor necrosis factor receptor family member, IGFLR1: A.A. Lobito, et al.; J. Biol. Chem. 286, 18969 (2011).

IGFL (mouse) (rec.) Product Code: AG-40B-0091-C010 10 µg
IGFL3 (human) (rec.) Product Code: AG-40B-0090-C010 10 µg
IGFLR1 (human):Fc (human) (rec.) Product Code: AG-40B-0087-C050 50 µg
IGFLR1 (mouse):Fc (human) (rec.) Product Code: AG-40B-0085-C050 50 µg
anti-IGFLR1 (human), pAb (IN101) Product Code: AG-25B-0026-C100 100 µg

Adipogen products are available in the UK exclusively through Caltag Medsystems. Please
visit http://www.caltagmedsystems.co.uk/ or http://www.adipogen.com/ for
further product information.

1,200 GPCR Antibodies, IHC validated - Prices Reduced for 2012

MBL off­ers the industry's largest inventory of rabbit polyclonal anti-human peptide antibodies to G Protein- Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). Comprising 1,200 antibodies covering 500 different target antigens, all GPCR antibodies are optimized for histochemistry in human tissues using formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded sections. Plus, all GPCR antibodies from MBL are reduced in price in 2012, from £258 to £200. This promotion applies to antibodies beginning with Product Code : LS-A.

Antibodies are provided as 50μg of peptide affinity-purified polyclonal rabbit sera. The expression pattern of each antibody has been screened across a panel of up to 50 tissues and compared to other proprietary or commercially available antibodies by board-certified pathologists. Antibodies are selected that show the strongest concordance to existing literature and known patterns of expression in other species, and for their affinity and specificity to their targets.

LS-A1192, brain, cerebellum LS-A1208, pancreas, islet

Download product information here.

Request our GPCR brochure for full product details, please email office@caltagmedsystems.co.uk

Mini-Exhibitions in Scotland...

Caltag Medsystems will be touring around Scotland in the last week of March visiting a number of Institutes, why not come along and see us. Mini exhibitions give us the opportunity to showcase the wide breadth of products that we offer, covering a range of research areas including flow cytometry, histology, cancer, cell biology and many more....

• We start in Aberdeen on Monday 26^th March and will be located in the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen.
• On Wednesday 28^th we will be visiting the University of Edinburgh and will be in the Darwin Building Foyer (opposite the library!)
• On Thursday 29^th we will be at the Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, located at the Wolfson Link Courtyard at the University of Glasgow.
• We end the week at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research on Friday 30^th, where we’ll be in the Atrium all day.

Each day we have a free prize draw where you could win one of 5 Hotel Chocolat Easter Bunnies!

Why not pop down and see what we have to offer...

Practicalities of Cellular Analysis using Flow Cytometry, Light and Electron Microscopy

On Wednesday 21^st March we will be in Newcastle exhibiting at the Practicalities of Cellular Analysis meeting.

The meeting will focus on 3 major aspects of cellular analysis, namely flow cytometry, light and electron microscopy. Very often these methods of cellular analysis are seen as individual disciplines, but in many cases they can complement each other to achieve a common research goal.

The meeting structure will revolve around 3 multi-disciplinary keynote talks encompassing the technology mix, interspersed amongst these will be parallel sessions focusing on aspects of flow cytometry, light and electron microscopy. In total, the event will incorporate approximately 2 hours of parallel sessions for each discipline and three 40 minute plenary talks.

The meeting will be held at the Conference and Banqueting Suite at the International Centre for Life, Newcastle Upon Tyne. The Centre for Life is a unique science village, which includes a Bioscience Centre, an exhibition area, the North-East Stem Cell Institute and the Institute of Human Genetics.

Click here to book to attend this meeting.

View the programme here.

LAG-3 (CD223): A Marker for Activated T Cells.

The Anti LAG-3 antibody, clone 17B4, is a potent antagonistic LAG-3 antibody, and is available in various conjugates from Adipogen (see further down for product details). LAG-3 (CD223) is a marker for activated T cells. It is a:

1. CD4-like membrane protein which binds to MHC class II protein.
2. Expressed by T cells, B cells, NK cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).
3. Negatively regulates T cell homeostasis, proliferation and activation.
4. Enhances Treg induced suppressive activity.
5. Soluble LAG-3 enhances DC activation and immunogenicity of tumor vaccines.
6. Antagonistic LAG-3 antibodies inhibit LAG-3 as down-regulator of the T cell response and lead to enhanced T cell proliferation.

For further information about LAG-3, please see the selected review article: The CD4-like molecule LAG-3, biology and therapeutic applications: S. Sierro, et al.; Expert. Opin. Ther. Targets 15, 91 (2011) (Review)

Anti LAG-3 antibody, clone 17B4: a potent antagonistic LAG-3 antibody:

• LAG-3 (human), mAb (blocking) (17B4) Product Code: AG-20B-0012-C100 100 µg
• LAG-3 (human), mAb (blocking) (17B4) (PF) Product Code: AG-20B-0012PF-C100 100 µg
• LAG-3 (human), mAb (17B4) (Biotin) Product Code: AG-20B-0012B-C100 100 µg
• LAG-3 (human), mAb (17B4) (FITC) Product Code: AG-20B-0012F-C100 100 µg
• LAG-3 (human), mAb (17B4) (ATTO 488) Product Code: AG-20B-0012TD-T100 100 tests
• LAG-3 (human), mAb (17B4) (ATTO 590) Product Code: AG-20B-0012TM-T100 100 tests
• LAG-3 (human), mAb (17B4) (ATTO 647N) Product Code: AG-20B-0012TS-T100 100 tests
• LAG-3, mAb (blocking) (11E3) Product Code: AG-20B-0011-C100 100 µg
• LAG-3, mAb (blocking) (11E3) (PF) Product Code: AG-20B-0011PF-C100 100 µg

Biologically Active Soluble LAG-3:

• LAG-3 (human):Fc (human) (rec.) Product Code: AG-40B-0031-C050 50 µg
• LAG-3 (mouse):Fc (mouse) (rec.) Product Code: AG-40B-0039-C050 50 µg
• LAG-3 (mouse):Fc (mouse) (rec.) (BULK) Product Code: AG-40B-0039AA-C500

Visit the Adipogen web site for a full list of LAG- 3 reagents. Caltag Medsystems is the exclusive distributor for Adipogen Products in the UK.

AMP Kinase Assay Kit for measurement of endogenous AMPK activity

The AMP Kinase Assay Kit from MBL is designed to measure the activities of purified AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or recombinant AMPK for the rapid and sensitive evaluation of activators or inhibitors.

The phospho-serine specific monoclonal antibody used in this assay kit has been demonstrated to recognize the phospho-serine 789 in mouse Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 (IRS-1), which is efficiently phosphorylated by AMPK. The AMPK Assay kit can be used for column fractions of cultured primary cell, cell line, or tissue can be assayed.

CycLex AMPK Kinase Assay Kit. Product Code: CY-1182

References:

1. Functional dissection of lysine deacetylases reveals that HDAC1 and p300 regulate AMPK. Lin YY et al. Nature. 2012 Feb 8; 482(7384): 251-5.
2. Identification of aneuploidy-selective antiproliferation compounds. Tang YC et al. Cell. 2011 Feb 18;144 (4):499-512.
3. Peptide switch is essential for Sirt1 deacetylase activity. Kang H et al. Mol Cell. 2011 Oct 21;44(2):203-13.

Further Information:

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates cellular energy metabolism by phosphorylation of key enzymes in metabolic pathways, such as acetyl–coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) or mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), by modulating their activities, and by regulating the activity of transcription factors and transcriptional cofactors. Its functions have been extensively studied in muscles and liver. AMPK stimulates pathways, which increase energy production (glucose transport, fatty acid oxidation) and switches off pathways, which consume energy (lipogenesis, protein synthesis, gluconeogenesis). Activation of AMPK in adipose tissue can be achieved through situations such as fasting and exercise. Adiponectin and leptin as well as hypoglycaemic drugs are activators of adipose tissue AMPK. This activation probably involves changes in the AMP/ATP ratio, and the upstream kinase LKB1. These results have led to the concept that AMPK has an interesting pharmaceutical potential in situations of insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) and it is indeed the target of existing drugs, e.g. Metformin and hormones which improve insulin sensitivity.

Mammalian AMPK is a trimeric enzyme comprising a catalytic α subunit (63 kDa) and non-catalytic β and γ subunits. Multiple isoforms of each mammalian enzyme exist (α1, α2, β1, β2, γ1, γ2, γ3), each encoded by a different gene. The β subunits have a calculated molecular mass of 30 kDa, but migrate on SDS-PAGE with apparent masses of 38 kDa (β1) and 34 kDa (β2), whereas the three γ isoforms have molecular masses of 37 kDa (γ1), 63 kDa (γ2) and 55 kDa (γ3). While AMPK complexes containing α2 (the first catalytic isoform to be cloned) predominate in skeletal and cardiac muscle, approximately equal levels of α1 and α2 complexes are present in the liver. In contrast, pancreatic islet β-cells largely express α1 complex activity.

CycLex AMPK Kinase Assay Kit. Product Code: CY-1182

Angiogenesis ELISA Strip Assay from Signosis – Profile 8 Cytokines Simultaneously

Angiogenesis as a biological switch process is governed by numerous pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGFb), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b). Profiling of these factors is critical to understanding angiogenesis.

The Human Angiogenesis ELISA Strip I (Product Code: EA-1011) and II (Product Code: EA-1041) available from Signosis each allow the simultaneous profiling of 8 cytokines involved in angiogenesis. The ELISA strip 1 detects TNFa, IGF-1, VEGF, IL-6, FGFb, TGFb, EGF, and Leptin, whilst ELISA strip 2 is used for measurement of PDGF-BB, PIGF-1, NGF, SCF, MCP-1, MIP-1a, IL-2, and IL-4.

Signosis also offer a Mouse Angiogenesis ELISA Strip (Product Code: EA-1021) for detection of TNFa, IGF-1, VEGF, IL-6, FGFb, IFNr, EGF, and Leptin and a Rat Angiogenesis ELISA Strip (Product Code: EA-1211) for TNFa, VEGF, IL-6, FGFb, IFNr, Leptin, MCP and Rantes.

Features and Benefits:

• Multiplex - A single ELISA strip allows the measurement of 8 angiogenesis cytokines.
• Flexible – Compare from 2 samples to 12 samples within a single plate.
• Quantitative measurements - Unlike membrane-based array assays, the difference in concentration between individual proteins between samples can be quantitatively compared.
• No need for capital equipment - Unlike beads-based assays, no capital equipment is required.
• Simple procedure -All in one system with a pre-coated 12 X 8 well plate.

Products:

Human Angiogenesis ELISA Strip I: Product Code: EA-1011

Human Angiogenesis ELISA Strip II: Product Code: EA-1041

Mouse Angiogenesis ELISA Strip Product Code: EA-1021

Rat Angiogenesis ELISA Strip Product Code: EA-1211

STEPCOUNT™ - Absolute Counting Cells For Flow Cytometry

Immunostep Stepcount™ tubes are designed for determining absolute counts of cells in peripheral blood, bone marrow, leukapheresis and culture medium samples using flow cytometry.

Stepcount™ tubes are a single-platform system for absolute counts, which can be used in combination with monoclonal antibodies conjugated with different fluorochromes, which make possible to identify cell sub populations for which the absolute count is intended.

Absolute counting of cells or cell subsets has a number of significant clinical applications as monitoring the disease status of HIV-infected patients, enumerating residual white blood cells in leukoreduced blood products, and assessing immunodeficiency in a variety of situations. The singleplatform method (flow cytometry alone) has emerged as the method of choice for absolute cell enumeration. This technology counts only the cells of interest in a precisely determined blood volume. Exact cell identification is accomplished by a logical electronic gating algorithm capable of identifying lineage-specific immunofluorescent markers. Exclusion of unwanted cells is automatic. This extensive and detailed unit presents protocols for both volumetric and flow-rate determination of residual white blood cells and of leukocyte subsets.

Benefits of Stepcount™

• Single-platform system for absolute counts
• In vitro diagnostic use
• Closed transparent tubes with a metal screen, including a white matrix at the bottom
• Excitable at wavelengths from 365 to 650nm 

StepCount Tubes (25 test)
Product Code: STP-25T
Price: £129

StepCount Tubes + CD3/CD16+56/CD45/CD19 (50 test)
Product Code: STPKIT2-50T
Price: £1,270

StepCount Tubes + CD3/CD4/CD45 (50 test)
Product Code: STPKIT3-50T
Price: £892

StepCount Tubes + CD3/CD4/CD8/C45 (50 test)
Product Code: STPKIT1-50T
Price: £1,111

StepCount Tubes + CD4/CD8/CD3 (50 test)
Product Code: STPKIT4-50T
Price: £811

View all these products on our website here.

Ancell™ – Source for High Quality Immunology Research Reagents

Ancell Corporation provides monoclonal antibodies, recombinant fusion proteins, isotype controls and second step reagents for immunology research.

They offer a comprehensive range of human CD antibodies, developed and variously labelled to perform in multiple applications, including flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, Western Blot, Immunopreciptation and Immunocytochemistry. Search by application here, just download our excel spread sheet and choose the application you are interested in. Several antibodies also have functional applications (antagonistic antibodies) and can be viewed in the same spread sheet.

Ancell also offers a broad range of labelled and unlabelled biologically active recombinant fusion proteins that are complementary to their CD marker antibody panel, view their recombinant protein range here.

View their anti-mouse antibodies here.

View the new Dylight350 conjugates – suitable for use with Flow Cytometers with a UV laser

Ancell also provide isotype controls, second step reagents, progenitor/stem cell products, TNF superfamily and cytokine related research reagents.

The current most popular products from Ancell include:

1. The anti-CD28 antibody - a Superagonist. This antibody can stimulate T cell IL-2 production even in the absence of receptor engagement.

Product Code: ANC-177-820
Form: Pur/PF
Size: 100 µg

2. The line of Fab and F(ab’)2 fragments
F(ab)
Product Code: ANC-359-580 anti-CD152 (ANC152.2/8H5) F(ab)
Product Code: ANC-165-580 anti-CD16 (3G8) F(ab)
Product Code: ANC-144-580 anti-CD3ε (UCHT1) F(ab)
Product Code: ANC-181-580 anti-CD32 (7.3) F(ab)
F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-359-520 anti-CD152 (ANC152.2/8H5) F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-165-520 anti-CD16(3G8) F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-167-520 anti-CD18 (IB4) F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-177-520 anti-CD28 (ANC28.1/5D10) F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-144-520 anti-CD3ε (UCHT1) F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-181-520 anti-CD32 (7.3) F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-252-520 anti-CD62P (G1/G1-4) F(ab‘)2
Product Code: ANC-216-520 anti-CD64 (10.1) F(ab‘)2

3. Recombinant protein direct conjugates (such as CD40 muIg/PE) which bind, in flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry to their counter receptors across various species.
The CD40-muIg fusion protein blocks binding of anti-human CD40 to Raji human tumour cells.

Product Code: ANC-504-050
Form: R-PE
Size: 50 tests