Released on: January 30, 2008, 8:48 am

Press Release Author: AnaSpec Inc.

Industry: Biotech

Press Release Summary: AnaSpec has announced the release of 21 new anti-Tau
antibodies

Press Release Body: January 28, 2008 - San Jose, CA

AnaSpec has announced the release of 21 new anti-Tau antibodies. Complementing one
of the world's most comprehensive collections of -amyloid peptides, this new
selection of anti-Tau antibodies demonstrates AnaSpec's efforts to deliver new
solutions for Alzheimer research.

Tau is a collection of microtubule-associated proteins that is involved in
microtubule assembly and stabilization.1 In adult human brain, 6 isoforms, ranging
between 352 and 441 amino acids in length, are produced as a result of alternative
RNA splicing.2,3 The expression of Tau isoforms is developmentally regulated, as
only the smallest Tau polypeptide is expressed in the fetal brain.
Hyperphosphorylated Tau is the major component of the paired helical filament of
Alzheimer's disease. Anti- phospho-Tau antibodies are used to identify specific
amino acids that are phosphorylated in Tau from normal brains and Alzheimer's
disease brains. The Tau proteins, especially in developing brains and in Alzheimer
brains, are phosphorylated in vivo at many different sites such as Thr181, Ser198,
Ser199, Ser202, Thr205, Thr212, Ser214, Thr217, Thr231, Ser235, Ser262, Ser356,
Ser396, Ser400, and Ser404.4,5

Rabbit anti-Phospho-Tau antibodies were raised against synthetic phosphopeptides
corresponding to the human Tau at the following sites: Thr181, Ser198, Ser199,
Ser202, Ser199/202, Thr205, Thr212, Ser214, Thr217, Thr231, Ser235, Ser262, Ser356,
Ser396, Ser400, and Ser404. These antibodies were evaluated for specificity with
ELISA and/or Western blot. By Western blot, an immunoreactive band around 52 kDa
was observed in the mouse whole brain lysate. Species reactivity includes human,
mouse and rat. Some antibodies have also shown reactivity with bovine, chicken and
zebrafish.

Company Info

AnaSpec, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions to
pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research institutions throughout the world.
With a vision for innovation through synergy, AnaSpec focuses on three core
technologies: peptides, detection reagents (dyes, assay kits, & antibodies), and
combinatorial chemistry.
For more information, visit www.anaspec.com

REFERENCES:
1. Cleveland, DW. et al. J. Mol. Biol. 116, 207 (1977).
2. Goedert, M. et al. Neuron 3, 519 (1989).
3. Geodert, M. et al. EMBO J. 8, 393 (1989).
4. Billingsley, M. et al. Biochem J. 323, 577 (1997).
5. Hanger, DP. et al. J. Neurochem. 71, 2465. (1998).



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

Contact Details: AnaSpec Inc.
2149 O\'Toole Ave.
San Jose, CA 95131
ping@anaspec,com