A specialist company in high purity reagents for glycobiology and glycoanalysis has announced a number of new and unique kits for proteoglycan research.Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides consisting of repeated dimers. All but hyaluronic acid (HA) possess sulphate bases, and exist in living organisms in the form of proteoglycans. Sulphated GAGs play important roles in the functions of a number of tissues.
A new Sulphated GAG Quantitation Kit allows easy quantification of sulphated GAGs in tissues such as cartilage, cultured chondrocytes, and chondrocyte culture solution, and is ideal for use in cartilage research and other fields. Based on a colourimetric determination method, using 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB), the new kit is capable of measuring amounts in the 2.5-80µg/mL range within a wide standard curve. Provided in a standard 96-well plate format that can be stored for up to one year, the kit facilitates simple, simultaneous processing of multiple samples.
AMSBIO offers a family of products for hyaluronic acid research. A new assay kit for screening of hyaluronidase inhibitors, and quantification of hyaluronidase activity in cells and other biological fluids is now available. Hyaluronidases are a group of enzymes that degrade HA. HA is widely distributed in the body and forms one of the most versatile macromolecules of the extracellular matrix.
Traditionally measurement of the activity of hyaluronidase enzymes has been difficult to perform and standardise.
The new assay kit from AMSBIO is non-radioactive, fast and easy to perform, sensitive and specific to hyaluronidase and uses a universal 96-well plate format ideal for inhibitor studies.
AMSBIO has also added a selection of new standards to its broad range of products for glycobiology and glycoanalysis. The new standards include Over Sulphated Chondroitin Sulphate, Dermatan Sulfate, Hyaluronic Acid from porcine skin and Heparan Sulphate from porcine mucosa.
The amsbio range includes over 23 000 polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, peptides, recombinant proteins, extracellular matrix, molecular detection reagents, and tissue DNA, RNA, protein and microarray products. Key research areas include: apoptosis, cell invasion and migration, cell signalling, DNA damage, electrophoresis, glycobiology, post translational modification and stem cell biology.
Analysis apoptosis
AMSBIO has also announced an expanded range of assay kits and reagents for the detection and analysis of apoptosis. A new selection guide has been created by AMSBIO to provide researchers with a quick and easy way to identify and select the best tools to measure apoptosis.
The guide provides detailed information on AMSBIO's range of Apoptosis Assay kits and reagents for microscopy, flow cytometry, screening and electrophoresis.
The guide also enables selection of optimal Apoptosis Assay based on the type of tissue fixation, tissue type and the volume of samples required for measurement.
Detection of apoptotic cells, monitoring cell progression to apoptosis, and developing drugs that regulate the apoptotic pathways are the essential parts of basic research.
AMS Biotechnology (AMSBIO) is based in Abingdon, Oxon, UK. www.amsbio.com
