Research Tools
Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for the Cytoplasmic Gamma-actin Isoform
WARF: P05366US
Inventors: James Ervasti, Laurin Hanft
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing five monoclonal antibodies to cytoplasmic gamma-actin.
Overview
The six mammalian actin genes encode a highly conserved family of cytoskeletal protein isoforms important in cell structure, mechanical stability, and motility. Actin isoforms exhibit tissue-specific expression and distinct subcellular distributions, suggesting that each isoform may serve a different function. Although commercially available monoclonal antibodies exist for most isoforms of actin, the only available antibodies specific for the gamma-cytoplasmic isoform were extremely variable polyclonal antibodies.
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have developed five monoclonal antibodies to cytoplasmic gamma-actin. They purified full-length cytoplasmic gamma-actin from bovine brain and then co-immunized mice with the purified gamma-actin and a synthetic peptide containing 15 amino acids from a unique sequence in the N-terminus of gamma-actin. Western blots of purified actin isoforms and tissue extracts confirmed that the resulting antibodies were specific to gamma-actin, while images of muscle biopsies from a dystrophic mouse model validated the antibodies for use in immunofluorescence microscopy and as potential diagnostics in muscular dystrophy.
Applications
- Potentially useful in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy
Key Benefits
- Provides—for the first time—monoclonal antibodies to the gamma-cytoplasmic isoform of actin
- Effective research tools
Tech Fields
For current licensing status, please contact Jennifer Gottwald at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9854