Anti-Sortilin Antibody, clone F11

"Mods – modifications – small alterations can have a big impact on form and function. In the motorsports world, stock vehicles are modified to enhance their performance. Modifications, or mods, to the engine, drive train, intake and exhaust components add up to provide phenomenal performance gains that can be measured as horsepower and torque increases, which yield a competitive advantage, and result in reduced run times. In biology, proteins undergo modifications that alter their function. Some proteins require the modifications in order to perform their function effectively, whether it’s a pro-protein that is cleaved to produce an active enzyme, or a protein that is phosphorylated to facilitate a signaling process. Other proteins, such as histones, undergo modifications that regulate gene expression and alter cellular function. There are several post translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination that impact protein function and activity. As a result, the analysis of proteins and their post-translational modifications are particularly important for the study of normal and disease-associated processes. New antibodies to detect phospho Histidines are now available from EMD Millipore."

Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressively deteriorating disease. It manifests itself with memory loss, confusion, problems with judgment, planning, concentration, and personality changes; and in it’s later stages, a decline in physical abilities. The disease’s causes, cures, and preventions are unknown; however, key proteins likely involved in the degenerative mechanism have been identified. Alzheimer’s Disease is characterized by neuronal loss, alterations in neurotransmitter systems, and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles composed of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. A prominent feature of Alzheimer’s Disease is the formation of senile plaques in selected regions of the brain. The center of these plaques are composed mainly of fibrillary aggregates of a common, but not well understood, b amyloid peptides (Aβ). The Aβ peptides are generated from the larger amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by the sequential action of β- and γ-secretase, and it is generally accepted that oligomeric forms of this Aβ are neurotoxic, resulting in disease progression.