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OriGene Blog
Latest Posts:
ASOs vs siRNA – Which is Right for Me?
Dec 21, 2023
Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) emerge as pivotal tools in molecular biology, offering precise means to silence targeted genes. In this blog we will explore the intricacies of these powerful gene-silencing tools, delving into their mechanisms and key differences. What are Antisense Oligonucleotides? Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are synthetic, single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules designed to bind selectively to complementary RNA sequences. On...
Understanding Plasmid Multimers
Dec 12, 2023
Plasmids are small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecules found in bacteria and some other single-celled organisms like archaea. They exist separate from the chromosomal DNA and carry genes that are often advantageous but not essential for the host cell's survival. Purified plasmids serve as versatile tools in scientific research and practical applications. In research laboratories, they're pivotal for gene cloning, allowing scientists to deliver specific genes...
Unlocking the secrets: A proven guide to mastering ELISA assay troubleshooting
Dec 01, 2023
ELISAs are widely used to quantify or detect antigens, hormones and antibodies. ELISA assays rely on an antibody that’s specific for the target of interest, and detection methods may be direct, two step, or rely on two types of antibodies (capture and detection). When running ELISAs it’s not unusual to encounter various types of assay issues. However, these issues result in reduced accuracy, increased variability,...
Lentivirus Biosafety: Ensuring Safe and Responsible Research
Nov 20, 2023
Lentiviruses have become indispensable tools in molecular biology, enabling precise gene delivery and manipulation. As researchers harness the potential of lentiviral vectors, it is paramount to prioritize biosafety. There have been considerable efforts to improve the safety of lentiviral vectors, thus 3 different generations exist, with increasing safety modifications. 2nd and 3rd generation systems are the most common vectors seen in the marketplace, thus knowing...
Tips and Tricks for troubleshooting common western blot issues
Nov 17, 2023
Western blots are a ubiquitous technique used in research labs to study proteins of interest. Western blotting is used for antibody validation, protein-protein interaction studies, and many other applications.1 However, generating interpretable western blot results can be challenging. Below are some commonly encountered issues and how to resolve them.2 High Background Could be caused by Try this High antibody concentrationSet up a titration with both...
CytoSections™ - Use case for antibody validation of the IDH1(R132H) mutation in Glioblastomas
Nov 09, 2023
Gliomas are the most frequent type of malignant brain tumor in adults, occuring in over 80% of cases.1 The enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase, (IDH), plays a crucial role in regular metabolic processes and maintaining homeostasis. IDH mutations however, are characteristic of a specific group of diffuse gliomas.2 In particular, mutation of IDH1 is a key indicator for patient survival. Patients with secondary glioblastomas containing the IDH1(R132H)...
7 Important Considerations When Selecting a Protein Expression System
Aug 22, 2023
Selecting the most suitable expression system for your research depends on various factors to ensure success. Whether you're embarking on cutting-edge research or pursuing large-scale biomanufacturing, understanding the considerations involved in selecting an expression system is of utmost importance. When choosing an expression system, you should consider the following factors: Expression Levels: Bacterial systems offer high expression levels, making them suitable for rapid and cost-effective...
Breaking News: FDA Approves ELEVIDYS™ as First Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy!
Jun 27, 2023
On June 22nd, 2023, the FDA provided accelerated approval for ELEVIDYS™, the first gene therapy to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)2. DMD is a genetic disorder that results in progressive muscle degeneration due to altered expression of the protein dystrophin, which is responsible for strengthening muscle fibers and facilitating safe muscle contractions1,4. Without proper dystrophin expression, muscle cells become fragile and easily damaged. The symptom...
Lentiviral Vectors as Catalysts for Vaccine Development
Jun 16, 2023
In the ever-evolving landscape of genetic research, lentiviral gene delivery has emerged as a powerful tool that has revolutionized the field of gene therapy and vaccine development. Lentiviral vectors (LVs), derived from HIV-1, have gained significant attention due to their unique ability to efficiently and stably transfer genetic material into both dividing and non-dividing cells. Particularly in the realms of infectious diseases and immuno-oncology, lentiviral...
An emerging biomarker for neurological disorders
Aug 25, 2022
GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) is a type III intermediate filament protein that is expressed by numerous cell types in the central nervous system (CNS), including astrocytes and ependymal cells during development. GFAP has been shown to be important in the pathogenesis of Alexander disease and in repair after CNS injury. Evidence suggests that minor changes in blood GFAP levels are associated with subtle injuries...
ST2: Potential Biomarker For Cardiovascular Disease
Aug 10, 2022
The ST2 gene (also known as IL1RL1) is a potential biomarker of poor prognosis in cardiovascular diseases. ST2 is present in two important isoforms: Membrane-bound ST2 (ST2L) and soluble ST2 (sST2). ST2L binds with IL33 and has a cardioprotective effect like decreased cardiac damage, prevention of apoptosis, lowered inflammatory effect, hypertrophy, and fibrosis. However, the binding of sST2 to IL33 causes the protective effect to disappear. Elevated levels of soluble ST2 are seen in the pericardial fluid and plasma...
ACE2: A predictor of infectability in SARS-Cov-2
Jul 13, 2022
Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), is a single-pass type I membrane protein and a zinc metalloprotease of the ACE family. ACE2 encodes for a protein that catalyzes the cleavage of angiotensin I into angiotensin 1-9 and angiotensin II into vasodilator angiotensin 1-7. Human ACE-2 protein consists of 805 amino acids, including a N-terminal signal peptide, a single catalytic domain, a junctional segment of the collectrin...
Human IL6: A Pleiotropic Inflammatory Cytokine
Jul 11, 2022
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine. It plays important role in inflammation disorders, autoimmune diseases, obesity, and cancer. Levels of IL-6 in human blood are very low under normal conditions, but the levels can increase thousands-fold in inflammatory states. Thus, monitoring IL-6 levels can help in diagnosing and preventing infectious diseases. IL-6 Signaling Pathway IL-6 has both pro-and anti-inflammatory functions that are mediated by...
KIR+ CD8+ T cells keep self-CD4+ T cells in check
Jun 09, 2022
The self/ non-self-recognition in adaptive immunity can be established both in central and peripheral tolerance. For the former, the selection processes of developing lymphocytes reduce but do not eliminate the self-recognizing clones. Two regulatory T-cells, CD4+ Treg and CD8+Treg cells (peripheral tolerance), maintain and regulate the self-recognizing clones. These are important to provide a complete TCR repertoire to fight against pathogens and may involve the...
Welcome to OriGene’s Test Your COVID-19 IQ Challenge Series Part Two
Jul 01, 2020
We have been bombarded with information on COVID19 from the beginning of this year after the first case of COVID19 was diagnosed. I tried to keep up but with 6000+ papers published in the first two months that was hard to keep up. Then one day a 2nd grader asked a simple question ‘What is COVID19’? I tried to explain the disease, symptoms and causes...
Welcome to OriGene’s Test Your COVID-19 IQ Challenge Series Part One
Jul 01, 2020
We have been bombarded with information on COVID19 from the beginning of this year after the first case of COVID19 was diagnosed. I tried to keep up but with 6000+ papers published in the first two months that was hard. Then one day a 2nd grader asked a simple question ‘What is COVID19’? I tried to explain the disease, symptoms and causes but failed to...
ACE2: Receptor for COVID-19 Invasion
Mar 05, 2020
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 that started in Wuhan, China, has spread globally and caused major loss in human lives. The latest research has reported that ACE2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) is a functional receptor for COVID-19 to latch on and enter.View All COVID19 Products The coronavirus enters human cell through the interaction of virus Spike protein (S protein) and ACE2 receptor on the cell...
The Revival of Lentiviral Vectors
Dec 11, 2019
In the early 1990s, researchers set out to harness viruses for gene therapy applications. The idea was to co-opt a virus’ natural ability to target cells, transverse the membrane and deliver genetic cargo for novel gene-based therapies. But like many early-stage technologies, challenges, setbacks and missteps dampened initial enthusiasm. Lentivirus-based vectors are increasingly used in gene and cell therapy research because theyhave the ability to...
"Where do you get your protein?" Survey Results
Apr 08, 2019
Recently, OriGene conducted a survey in our scientific community on proteins that scientists use in their research. Over 900 scientists responded to the survey worldwide. Below are some of the questions on the survey: Where do you get your proteins? How do you find your proteins? Which of the followings is the top factor you consider when selecting a protein product? What are the downstream...
Tips on Molecular Cloning
Mar 12, 2019
Molecular cloning is a set of experimental methods in molecular biology that are used to assemble recombinant DNA molecules. These recombinant molecules are used to direct their replication within host organism (1,2). In this article, we describe the basic molecular cloning technique that helps every scientist in their laboratory on a regular basis. Plasmid based cloning comprises of 4 main steps: Insert DNA preparation Vector...
HSD17B13 (Hydroxysteroid 17-Beta Dehydrogenase 13)
Jan 23, 2019
HSD17B13, a member of a large family of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, gained a sudden fame recently. A genetic study in 2018 discovered that a genetic variant is associated with a reduced risk for chronicle liver diseases, including NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). More studies indicate the progress of NASH to HCC can also be reduced by the presence of the variant. Clin...
2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to 2 Immunotherapy Researchers
Oct 23, 2018
The 2018 Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded on Monday, October 1st, 2018 to Tasuku Honjo of Japan and James P. Allison of the United States for discovering Immuno Oncology Checkpoint Proteins (I-O) that have fundamentally changed the way some cancers are treated. Unlike previous cancer therapies that target cancer cells directly, their discovery targets the “brakes” of the host immune system. Role...
To be, or not to be, that is the question.
Oct 02, 2018
As your gene company, OriGene wants to offer you, the molecular biologists, a complete solution: not just expression-ready clones, but also transfection-ready purified plasmid DNA. For a limited time, we are offering 20,000 mouse expression clones for $48 per vial of 10ug plasmid DNA. With this, you will skip the tedious work of transformation / E. coli culture / plasmid prep / sequence verification /...
MAGEA4 is Hot Right Now!
Jul 16, 2018
What makes MAGEA4 a hot target? Melanoma Antigen Gene (MAGE) type A4 acts as an activator of Trans-lesion synthesis, an error-prone mechanism for DNA repair. Interest in the antigen began when the MAGE proteins were found to only express in the testes, placenta, and several types of tumors. This differentiation made MAGEA4 a perfect immunotherapeutic target, and the excitement in the research community ignited. A...
Biosafety considerations when handling lentivirus
Jun 14, 2018
Human ingenuity has turned the sinister HIV-1 virus into a convenient laboratory tool for gene delivery as lentiviral vector. After multiple rounds of engineering, the 3rd generation of lenti viral system has diminished the possibility for the lab-made virus to replicate and to impose health risk to laboratory staff. While it is important that we treat all laboratory tools with respect, there is no reason...
Antibody Validation – How do we confirm the specificity of an antibody?
May 12, 2018
One common question that scientists always ask when they get the signal from an antibody based assay is: "Does this signal truly represent the presence and quantity of my protein?" Antibody specificity is always a concern for scientists. Even though there are a number of validation methods that have been used for the specificity testing, the data is often over-interpreted. Research data from various groups...