High-purity reagent specialist Amsbio has launched a number of new kits for proteoglycan research.
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides consisting of repeated dimers.
All but hyaluronic acid (HA) possess sulphate bases, and exist in living organisms in the form of protoglycans.
Sulphated GAGs play important roles in the functions of a number of tissues.
A Sulphated GAG Quantitiation Kit allows easy quantification of sulphated GAGs in tissues such as cartilage, cultured chondrocytes, and chondrocyte culture solution, and is ideal for use in cartilage research and other fields.
Based on a colorimetric determination method, using 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB), the kit is capable of measuring amounts in the 2.5-80ug/mL range within a wide standard curve.
Provided in a standard 96-well plate format that can be stored for up to one year, the kit is said to facilitate simple, simultaneous processing of multiple samples.
Amsbio also offers a family of products for hyaluronic acid research.
An assay kit for screening of hyaluronidase inhibitors, and quantification of hyaluronidase activity in cells and other biological fluids is now available.
Hyaluronidases are a group of enzymes that degrade HA.
HA is widely distributed in the body and forms one of the most versatile macromolecules of the extracellular matrix.
Traditionally, measurement of the activity of hyaluronidase enzymes has been difficult to perform and standardise.
The assay kit from Amsbio is non-radioactive, fast and easy to perform, sensitive and specific to hyaluronidase and uses a universal 96-well plate format ideal for inhibitor studies.
Amsbio has also added a selection of new standards to its range of products for glycobiology and glycoanalysis.
The standards include Over Sulphated Chondroitin Sulphate, Dermatan Sulphate, Hyaluronic Acid from porcine skin, and Heparan Sulphate from porcine mucosa.
