Biosensis

Description:   Visinin (sometimes known as hippocalcin-like protein 3, HLP3, HPCAL3, HUVISL1, VLP-1, VILIP and VILIP-1) was originally isolated biochemically from chicken retina as a major protein of about 24kDa on SDS-PAGE. Following cloning and sequencing of visinin, several visinin like proteins were discovered by homology screening. One of these, Visinin-like protein 1 is a small Calcium binding protein which is very abundant in the nervous system and is found only in neurons, though different neurons have different levels of expression. It is particularly concentrated in cerebellar Purkinje cells, and tends to be most abundant in perikarya and dendrites. The protein belongs to the large superfamly of calmodulin and paravalbumin type proteins which function by binding Calcium ions. Calcium binding alters the confomation of these proteins and allow them to interact with other binding partners, the properties of which they may alter. Visinin-like protein 1 has four 'EF hand' domains, which are negatively charged helix-turn-helix peptides which are responsible for Calcium binding. Visinin-like protein 1 is 191 amino acids in size and has a molecular weight on SDS-PAGE of 22kDa.

Description:   Anti-GFAP Mouse T4 Antibody [clone: 2A5]

Description:   GAP43 is very abundant protein which is found concentrated in neurons. One group discovered it as one of three proteins which becomes unregulated during the regeneration of the toad optic nerve (1). Three GAPs (Growth associated proteins) were discovered, and the number 43 comes from the apparent SDS-PAGE molecular weight of the one named GAP43. The HGNC name for this protein is, not surprisingly, GAP43. Later work showed that GAP43 does not run on SDS-PAGE in a fashion which accurately reflects its molecular weight, and that GAP43 proteins from different species may run at different apparent molecular weights. Partly due to these features GAP43 were independently discovered by several different groups and therefore has several alternate names, such as protein F1, pp46, neuromodulin, neural phosphoprotein B-50 and calmodulin-binding protein P-57. In each case the number reflects the apparent SDS-PAGE molecular weight, and underlines the unusual properties of this molecule. Mammalian GAP43 proteins contains only 226-243 amino acids, and so the real molecular weight is 23.61-25.14 kDa. GAP43 has been extensively studied and is known to be a major protein kinase C substrate and to bind calmodulin avidly. GAP43 is anchored to the plasma membrane by palmitoylation modifications.

Description:   BDNF belongs to the neurotrophin family and promotes the survival of neuronal populations that are all located either in the central nervous system or directly connected to it. It is a major regulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the CNS. The versatility of BDNF is emphasized by its contribution to a range of adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability. The alterations in BDNF expression induced by various kinds of brain insult including stress, ischemia, seizure activity and hypoglycemia, may contribute to some pathologies such as depression, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Microglia release BDNF that may contribute to neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain. SUBUNIT: Monomers and homodimers. Binds to NTRK2/TRKB. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Secreted protein. POst translation modification: Converted into mature BDNF by plasmin (PLG). SIMILARITY: Belongs to the NGF-beta family.

Description:   Neurotensin is a neuropeptide which regulates secretion of luteinizing hormone and prolactin. Involved in dopamine neurotransmission.

Description:   NT3 is a member of the neurotrophin family, that controls survival and differentiation of visceral and proprioceptive sensory neurons. NT3 is closely related to both NGF and BDNF. It may be involved in the maintenance of the adult nervous system, and may affect development of neurons in the embryo when it is expressed in human placenta. NT3-deficient mice generated by gene targeting display sevvere movement defects of the limbs. The mature peptide of this protein is identical in all mammals examined including human, pig, rat and mouse. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Secreted protein. TISSUE SPECIFICITY: Brain and peripheral tissues. SIMILARITY: Belongs to the NGF-beta family.

Description:   Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) is a nuclear hormone receptor that binds peroxisome proliferators such as hypolipidemic drugs and fatty acids. Once activated by a ligand, the receptor binds to a promoter element in the gene for acyl-CoA oxidase and activates its transcription (Ref: SWISSPROT).

Description:   FUNCTION: Neuropeptides that play a significant role in the regulation of food intake and sleep-wakefulness, possibly by coordinating the complex behavioral and physiologic responses of these complementary homeostatic functions. A broader role in the homeostatic regulation of energy metabolism, autonomic function, hormonal balance and the regulation of body fluids, is also suggested. Orexin-A binds to both OX1R and OX2R with a high affinity, whereas orexin-B binds only to OX2R with a similar high affinity. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Endoplasmic reticulum; rough endoplasmic reticulum. Associated with perikaryal rough endoplasmic reticulum as well as cytoplasmic large granular vesicles at synapses. SIMILARITY: Belongs to the orexin family.

Description:   BDNF belongs to the neurotrophin family and regulates the survival and differentiation of neurons during development. The alterations in BDNF expression induced by various kinds of brain insult including stress, ischemia, seizure activity and hypoglycemia, may contribute to some pathologies such as depression, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Microglia release BDNF that may contribute to neuroinflammation and neuropathic pain. FUNCTION: Promotes the survival of neuronal populations that are all located either in the central nervous system or directly connected to it. Major regulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the CNS. The versatility of BDNF is emphasized by its contribution to a range of adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability. SUBUNIT: Monomers and homodimers. Binds to NTRK2/TRKB. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Secreted protein. Post Translation Modification (PTM): The propeptide is N-glycosylated and glycosulfated. PTM: Converted into mature BDNF by plasmin (PLG) (By similarity). DISEASE: Defects in BDNF are a cause of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS); also known as congenital failure of autonomic control or Ondine curse. CCHS is a rare disorder characterized by abnormal control of respiration in the absence of neuromuscular or lung disease, or an identifiable brain stem lesion. A deficiency in autonomic control of respiration results in inadequate or negligible ventilatory and arousal responses to hypercapnia and hypoxemia. CCHS is frequently complicated with neurocristopathies such as Hirschsprung disease that occurs in about 16% of CCHS cases. SIMILARITY: Belongs to the NGF-beta family.

Description:   Monoclonal antibody MC192 against the rat low affinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75NTR) is derived from the fusion of Sp2/0-Ag 14 myeloma cells with mouse immune splenocytes. MC192 monoclonal antibody was originally generated by Chandlers et al. p75NTR was originally discovered as a low affinity nerve growth factor receptor. Later it was found that it was the receptor for all neurotrophins. It mediates signals of neurotrophins for neuronal survival, apoptosis, neurite outgrowth and synaptic plasticity. Recently, it has been revealed that p75NTR is not only acts as the receptor for neurotrophins but also the receptor for many other pathological ligands such as prions, rabies virus and amyloid beta. p75NTR also acts as a co-receptor for NOGO which mediates inhibitory signals of myelin associated protein. p75NTR is highly expressed in a number of non-neuronal and neuronal cells including motor neurons during development and also in damaged neurons. MC192 recognizes the extracellular domain of the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR in rat. MC192 antibody may be used for immunocytochemical localisation of rat cells expressing p75NTR, ELISA and western blot. This antibody has also been used for the construction of the MC192-saporin immunotoxin for specific elimination of neuronal populations in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons to generate an animal model for Alzheimer's disease. Using Flow Cytometry, this antibody has frequently been employed for panning to isolate p75NTR-expressing rat cells. MC192 has a potential use as the ligand for gene delivery into p75NTR-expressing rat cells via a receptor-mediated mechanism. FUNCTION: Low affinity receptor which can bind to NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4. Can mediate cell survival as well as cell death of neural cells. SUBUNIT: Homodimer; disulfide-linked. Interacts with p75NTR-associated cell death executor. Interacts with NGFRAP1/BEX3. Interacts with TRAF2, TRAF4, TRAF6, PTPN13 and RANBP9. Interacts through TRAF6 with SQSTM1 which bridges NGFR to NTRK1 (By similarity). Interacts with BEX1. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Membrane; single-pass type I membrane protein. DOMAIN: Death domain is responsible for interaction with RANBP9. PTM: N- and O-glycosylated. PTM: Phosphorylated on serine residues. SIMILARITY: Contains 1 death domain. SIMILARITY: Contains 4 TNFR-Cys repeats.

Description:   Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of the catecholamines dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Therefore the regulation of the TH enzyme represents the central means for controlling the synthesis of these important catecholamines. FUNCTION: Plays an important role in the physiology of adrenergic neurons. CATALYTIC ACTIVITY: L-tyrosine + tetrahydrobiopterin + O2 = 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine + 4a-hydroxytetrahydrobiopterin. COFACTOR: Fe(2+) ion. ENZYME REGULATION: Phosphorylation leads to an increase in the catalytic activity. PATHWAY: Catecholamine biosynthesis; first step. SUBUNIT: Homotetramer. PTM: In vitro, phosphorylation of Ser-19 increases the rate of Ser-40 phosphorylation, which results in enzyme opening and activation. SIMILARITY: Belongs to the biopterin-dependent aromatic amino acid hydroxylase family. The presence of different DNA sequences at the TH locus confers susceptibility to various disorders of the brain including manic-depression and schizophrenia. Parkinson's disease is also considered a TH deficiency as low dopamine levels are a consistent neurochemical abnormality.

Description:   Leptin is secreted by white adipocytes and functions as part of a signaling pathway that can inhibit food intake and/or regulate energy expenditure to maintain constancy of the adipose mass. Leptin also has several endocrine functions and is involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and wound healing (Ref: Entrez Gene).

Description:   Peripherin is a class-III neuronal intermediate filament protein found in certain classes of neuron, most of which are located in the peripheral nervous system. Peripherin is a ~57kDa intermediate filament subunit found initially in sensory neurons of the peripheral nervous systems, which gives the protein its name. The HGNC name for this protein is PRPH. Subsequently, peripherin was found in some sensory and other neurons of the central nervous system and also in rat pheochromacytoma PC12 cells. Peripherin is also expressed in certain neuroendocrine tumors and in the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. Peripherin belongs to the Class III family of intermediate filament subunits which also includes vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and desmin.

Description:   Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is approx. 50 kDa intra-cytoplasmic filamentous protein of the cytoskeleton in astrocytes. During the development of the central nervous system, it is a cell-specific marker that distinguishes astrocytes from other glial cells. GFAP immunoreactivity has been shown in immature oligodendrocytes, epiglottic cartilage, pituicytes, papillary meningiomas, myoepithelial cells of the breast and in non-CNS: Schwann cells, salivary gland neoplasms, enteric glia cells, and metastasizing renal carcinomas.

Description:   Hormone Sensitive Lipase (HSL) hydrolyzes stored triglycerides to free fatty acids in adipose tissue and heart. In steroidogenic tissues, HSL principally converts cholesteryl esters to free cholesterol for steroid hormone production (ref: SWISSPROT).