New Products

Ras G-LISA^® Activation Assay Biochem Kit
(Absorbance Based)

The patented G-LISA^® technology has dramatically improved throughput, quality and cost of small G-protein activation assays. The technology has now been extended to include the Ras family of small G-proteins. The new Ras G-LISA^® kit (Cat. # BK131) allows measurement of Ras activation from cell and tissue samples in less than 3 hours.  The assay generally requires 10-20 µg of total lysate which enables analysis of low abundance samples such as primary cells.  

Right: Ras activation by EGF measured by G-LISA^®. HeLa cells were serum starved (SS) for 24 h and treated with EGF (100 ng/ml for 2 min). 25,  12.5, 5, 1.25 µg of cell lysate was subjected to the G-LISA^® assay. Absorbance was read at 490 nm.  Data are background subtracted.

For more information about the Ras G-LISA^® click here.

Fluorescent ECM Proteins

ECM protein reagents have been used to study cell invasion, cell attachment, regulation of ECM degradation and cellular responses to microenvironments.  ECM proteins labeled with fluorescent or biotinylated moieties are also useful reagents. For example, fluorescently labeled proteins allow visualization of ECM degradation during invasion, (Ref. 1).  Biotinylation allows one to regulate the presentation of a given ECM on a streptavidin-coated surface (Ref. 2). To enable more research in this area, we are pleased to introduce a range of fluoresecently labeled and biotinylated fibronectins and laminins. 

References: 

 1. Artym W et al., 2009 Methods in mol. Boil., Extracellular matrix protocols, 522, 211-219 Humana Press.

2. Lehnert M. et al..2011 Langmuir, 27, 7743-7751.

Right:  Fluorescent ECM.  Lanes:1. Rhodamine laminin 2. HiLyte488™ laminin3. Rhodamine fibronectin4. HiLyte488™ fibronectin

Products

• Fibronectin, Green fluorescent, HiLyte 488 (Cat. # FNR02)
  
• Fibronectin, Biotinylated (Cat. # FNR03)
• Laminin, Red fluorescent, rhodamine (Cat. # LMN01)
• Laminin, Green fluorescent, HiLyte 488™ (Cat. # LMN02)
  
• Laminin, Biotinylated (Cat. # LMN03)
  
  
  

For more information about Fluorescent ECM proteins click here.

FtsZ Proteins

FtsZ proteins are the bacterial homologues of tubulin and are essential for bacterial cell division.  FtsZ inactivation inhibits cell division, making them attractive targets for novel antimicrobial drugs.  Although FtsZ proteins exhibit a degree of homology, inhibitors of the proteins show differential affinity and differential efficacy. Thus improved targeting can be achieved by screening several FtsZ proteins from different species. To improve drug screening of species-selective antimicrobials, Cytoskeleton offers FtsZ proteins from E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis. 

Crystal structure of FtsZ proteinAdapted from Ref:  Lowe & Amos et al. 1998. Nature, 391, 203-206.

Products

• FtsZ protein: S. aureus recombinant 6xHis-tagged (Cat. # FTZ02)
  
• FtsZ protein: S. pneumoniae recombinant 6xHis-tagged (Cat. # FTZ03)
  
• FtsZ protein: E. faecalis recombinant 6xHis-tagged (Cat. # FTZ04)
  
• FtsZ protein: E. coli recombinant 6xHis-tagged (Cat. # FTZ05)
  
  

For more information about FtsZ proteins click here.