Released on = October 23, 2006, 3:02 pm

Press Release Author = Debra Thai

Industry = Biotech

Press Release Summary = A Ca2+-binding protein, aequorin, can be found in the
jellyfish Aequorea victoria umbrella's outer margin. This photoprotein consists of
an apoprotein (apoaequorin), molecular oxygen and coelenterazine.



Press Release Body = Aequorin contains three binding sites for calcium. When calcium
ions bind to these sites, they catalyze the oxidation of coelenterazine to
coelenteramide, releasing a blue-fluorescent protein product1-3. The major
advantages of using coelenterazine and its analogs for calcium detection include the
elimination of autofluorescence, photobleaching and biological degradation since
they do not require light excitation. Additionally, they offer a wide detection
range 4,5.

Coelenterazine and its analogs have been used in transgenic cells expressing
apoaequorin for the detection of Ca2+. The Renilla luciferase also oxidizes
coelenterazine and its analogs to yield a blue fluorescent protein.

AnaSpec offers the following coelenterazines (native and analogs) which have
different Ca2+ sensitivities and emission wavelengths:
· Coelenterazine *UltraPure Grade*
· Coelenterazine cp *UltraPure Grade*
· Coelenterazine f *UltraPure Grade*
· Coelenterazine h *UltraPure Grade*
· Coelenterazine hcp *UltraPure Grade*
· Coelenterazine n *UltraPure Grade*
· Coelenterazine Sampler Kit *UltraPure Grade*

Other Calcium Detection Reagents:
· UV-excitable calcium indicators: Fura-2, Indo-1
· Visible light-excitable calcium indicators: Fluo-3, Rhod-2, Calcein
· Non-luminescent calcium indicator: Pluronic® F-127

For more information visit www.anaspec.com

References:
1. Shimomura, O. and FH. Johnson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75, 2611 (1978).
2. Shimomura, O. and FH. Johnson, Nature 256, 236 (1975).
3. Shimomura, O. et al. Biochem. J. 296 (Pt 3), 549 (1993).
4. Burton, M. et al. Free Radic. Res. 37, 145 (2003).
5. Shiomomura, O. and K. Teranishi, Luminescen


Web Site = http://www.anaspec.com

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info@anaspec.com
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