Specialist in high purity reagents for glycobiology and glycoanalysis - AMSBIO - has announced a number of new and unique kits for proteoglycan research.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides consisting of repeated dimers. All but hyaluronic acid (HA) possess sulfate bases, and exist in living organisms in the form of proteoglycans. Sulfated GAGs play important roles in the functions of a number of tissues.

A new Sulfated GAG Quantitation Kit allows easy quantification of sulfated 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 new kit is capable of measuring amounts in the 2.5-80 µg/ mL range within a wide standard curve.  Provided in a standard 96-well plate format that can be stored for up to 1 year, the kit facilitates simple, simultaneous processing of multiple samples.

AMSBIO offers a family of products for hyaluronic acid research.  A new 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 new 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 broad range of products for glycobiology and glycoanalysis.  The new standards include Over Sulfated Chondroitin Sulfate, Dermatan Sulfate, Hyaluronic Acid from porcine skin and Heparan Sulfate from porcine mucosa. For further information on sensitive and specific kits for glycobiology and glycoanalysis please contact AMSBIO on telephone +44-1235-828200 or visit http://www.amsbio.com/feature_Glycobiology.aspx.  

Founded in 1987, AMS Biotechnology (amsbio) is recognised as a leading international provider of unique & innovative products & custom services for life sciences research. The amsbio range includes over 23,000 polyclonal & monoclonal antibodies, peptides, recombinant proteins, extracellular matrix, molecular detection reagents, & tissue DNA, RNA, protein & microarray products. Key research areas include: apoptosis, cell invasion & migration, cell signaling, DNA damage, electrophoresis, glycobiology, post translational modification and stem cell biology.