Antibodies are specialized proteins generated by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses. They function by recognizing and binding to specific molecular structures, known as antigens. Novus Biologicals is a prominent provider of antibodies and related reagents, making unique biological reagents widely accessible to researchers globally to advance scientific understanding.
The Role of Novus Antibodies in Research
Novus antibodies serve as foundational tools in scientific investigations, enabling researchers to explore biological processes at a molecular level.
In Western Blotting, antibodies detect specific proteins separated by size on a gel. A primary antibody binds to its target protein, and a secondary antibody, often conjugated with an enzyme, then binds to the primary, allowing visualization and quantification.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Immunofluorescence (IF) employ Novus antibodies to visualize proteins in tissue sections or cells. IHC pinpoints specific protein locations in tissues, aiding disease progression or cellular distribution studies. Immunofluorescence uses fluorescently tagged antibodies to observe protein expression patterns in cells, providing insights into cellular structures and pathways.
Flow Cytometry uses Novus antibodies to analyze and sort cell populations by their specific surface or intracellular proteins. Fluorescently tagged antibodies bind to distinct cellular markers, allowing quantification and differentiation of cell types within a heterogeneous sample.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) quantify target substances, like proteins or peptides, in a sample. Antibodies capture the target, and subsequent binding or enzymatic reactions produce a measurable signal proportional to the substance’s amount.
Ensuring Quality and Specificity
The effectiveness of research findings heavily relies on the quality and specificity of the antibodies used. Novus Biologicals implements rigorous validation processes to ensure their antibodies bind only to their intended targets and produce consistent results.
One method is genetic strategy validation, where target protein expression is compared before and after knockout or knockdown using techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 or siRNA. A significant reduction in protein expression confirms the antibody’s specificity to the target.
Orthogonal validation further assesses specificity by comparing antibody-dependent results with those from antibody-independent methods, such as mass spectrometry or RNA-seq. A strong correlation between these different approaches indicates reliable antibody performance.
Novus also performs independent antibody validation, comparing data from multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes on the same protein. This ensures consistent molecular weight and cellular localization, supporting reproducible and accurate research outcomes.
Diversity of Novus Antibody Offerings
Novus Biologicals provides an extensive array of antibodies, catering to a broad spectrum of research needs. Their catalog includes both primary and secondary antibodies, each serving distinct roles in experimental setups. Primary antibodies directly recognize and bind to the target protein, while secondary antibodies bind to primary antibodies, often carrying a label for detection.
Researchers can choose from different clonality types, including monoclonal antibodies, which recognize a single epitope, and polyclonal antibodies, which recognize multiple epitopes on a target. Monoclonal antibodies generally offer high specificity and reproducibility, while polyclonal antibodies can provide higher affinity and are suitable for detecting native proteins.
Novus’s offerings cover over 20,000 unique protein targets and more than 40 species, including human, mouse, and rat. They also provide antibodies with various conjugations, such as fluorescent dyes (e.g., Alexa Fluor variants), enzymes, or biotin, enabling diverse detection methods in fields like neuroscience, immunology, and cancer research.