Application

Anti-Glutamine Synthetase antibody has been used for the detection and localization of GS by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry.

Immunoblotting: a minimum working antibody dilution of 1:10,000 is determined using a rat brain cytosolic fraction extract. Immunohistochemistry: a minimum working antibody dilution of 1:10,000 is determined using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of rat brain.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Glutamine synthetase (GS) catalyzes the amidation of glutamate to form glutamine. In the brain, GS is considered as a key enzyme, participating in recycling of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate released from neurons and termination of the neurotransmitter signal, as well as in ammonia detoxification. GS activity is a useful marker for astrocytes and an important differentiation feature in the retina. Upregulation of GS is a hallmark of reactive astrocytosis and GS activity level increases following spinal cord injury. The GS expression in astrocytes is diminished in brains affected by Alzheimer′s disease, particularly in the vicinity of senile plaques. GS is upregulated in a subset of human hepatocellular carcinomas, suggesting that its expression may be related to tumor recurrence, since tumors expressing GS are independent of the extracellular glutamine supply.

Disclaimer

Unless otherwise stated in our catalog or other company documentation accompanying the product(s), our products are intended for research use only and are not to be used for any other purpose, which includes but is not limited to, unauthorized commercial uses, in vitro diagnostic uses, ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic uses or any type of consumption or application to humans or animals.

General description

Anti-Glutamine Synthetase is produced in rabbit using a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminus of mouse glutamine synthetase (GS) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) as immunogen. This sequence is identical in human, bovine, rat, hamster and pig GS, and highly conserved in chicken GS. GS is found in mammals as an octamer of identical 45 kDa subunits. It is localized in glial cells of various species. It is present in the brain primarily in astrocytes and in the retina in Muller glial cells that support neurons using glutamate as a neurotransmitter. GS is found in several brain regions including hippocampus, cerebral cortex, neostriatum and cerebellar granular layer, corresponding to sites with high glutamate receptor density.

Immunogen

synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal region of mouse glutamine synthetase (GS) (amino acids 357-373. This sequence is identical in human, bovine, rat, hamster, and pig GS and highly conserved chicken Gs (single amino acid substitution).

Physical form

Solution in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4, containing 15 mM sodium azide

Specificity

Anti-Glutamine synthetase recognizes rat glutamine synthetase (GS) (45 kDa). Staining of GS in immunoblotting is specifically inhibited with the GS immunizing peptide (amino acids 357-373 with Nterminally added lysine).