Neural Marker Guide

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Neural stem cells are multipotent, undifferentiated cells that can generate all the major cell types of the central nervous system. Antibodies against neural stem cell proteins such as nestin and SOX2 are useful to identify neural stem cells and developing neurons.
Our neural stem cell products include:

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Chicken polyclonal Nestin in dentate gyrus of the hippocampus

Neurons express distinct proteins at different levels, regions and stages in their development and can be classified by the type of neurotransmitter they produce. Antibodies against various neuronal proteins are useful in distinguishing neurons from other neural cell types, determining the function of neurons (i.e. inhibitory or excitatory) and discovering synaptic partners.

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Chicken polyclonal Neu-N in auditory ganglion

Proteins that are localized to either the pre-synaptic or post-synaptic terminals are frequently used in conjunction to identify synapse formation and study the development and maintence of synaptic junctions.

Pre-Synaptic

Proteins such as VGLUT1 and synaptophysin are localized in pre-synaptic terminals and therefore serve as excellent pre-synaptic markers.

Rabbit polyclonal Synapsin in caudate neurons

VGLUT1

VGLUT2

Synapsin

VGAT

VMAT2

Neurexin 1β

Bassoon

SNAP25

Synaptophysin

Synaptotagmin

Syntaxin

Synaptobrevin (VAMP)

α-Synuclein

Dopa Decarboxylase

Dopamine Transporter

Tyrosine Hydroxylase

GAP43

PSD95

Pan-MAGUK

Pan-Shank

Shank1

Shank2

Shank 3

GluR2

SAP102

Neuroligin 1

Neuroligin 2

Neuroligin 3

Homer 1

GABA_AR γ2

Gephyrin

SAPAP3

NMDAR1

Dopaminergic neurons produce the monoamine neurotransmitter dopamine. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of the catecholamines dopamine and norepinephrine. TH antibodies can therefore be used as markers for dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons in a variety of applications including depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease and drug abuse.

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Rabbit polyclonal
Tyrosine Hydroxylase in dopaminergic neurons

Glutamatergic neurons produce glutamate, which is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system and plays a crucial role in learning and memory. Antibodies against proteins such as NMDAR2B and VGLUT are widely used to identify glutamatergic neurons.

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Rabbit polyclonal
NR2B in iPSC derived neurons

GABAergic neurons produce GABA, which is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Proteins such as GABAAR alpha 1 and GAD65/67 are widely used to identify GABAergic neurons. GABAergic interneurons typically express only one of three calcium binding proteins: calbindin, calretinin or parvalbumin. Inhibitory interneurons that differ morphologically can be distinguished and subclassified based on their expression of these proteins.

Chicken polyclonal
GAD67 in Sph21 neuroblastoma cells

Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT) catalyzes the synthesis of acetylcholine which is the primary neurotransmitter used by cholinergic neurons. Antibodies such as ChAT can therefore be used to identify cholinergic neurons.

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Mouse monoclonal
VACHT in coronal sections of rat cerebellum

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC) are enzymes invovled in the synthesis of serotonin which is the principal neurotransmitter used by serotonergic neurons. TPH and DDC antibodies can therefore be used to identify serotonergic neurons.

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Sheep polyclonal
VMAT2 in retinal sections

The axon is a specialized projection that emerges from the soma (cell body) of a neuron which propagates action potentials down its length, ultimately leading to neurotransmitter release at the axon terminals. Proteins such as ankyrin G and neurofascin are specifically localized in axon initial segments making them excellent axon markers.

Dendrites are the "branches" of neurons and receive synaptic inputs from axons. MAP2 is specifically localized in dendrites making antibodies against MAP2 the most widely used dendritic markers.

Chicken polyclonal
MAP2 in neurosphere cultures

Astrocytes are a type of glia in the CNS that have many functions including maintaining brain homeostasis, regulating neurotransmiiters and promoting synapse formation. Proteins such as GFAP and S100B are predominantly expressed by astrocytes making them excellent markers for identifying them.

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Mouse monoclonal GFAP in rat hippocampus

Oligodendrocytes, a type of glia, are the myelinating cells of the central nervous system. Proteins expressed in various phases of oligodendrocyte development serve as useful markers in distinguishing them.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells

Neural-glial antigen 2 (NG2) is a hallmark protein of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and is therefore widely used as a marker to identify them.

Mature oligodendrocytes

Proteins such as Olig2 are essential for oligodendrocyte development and are therefore widely used in identifying mature oligodendrocytes.

Rabbit polyclonal
Olig2 in primary rat cortical neuroepithelial cells

Microglia are of myeloid lineage and migrate to the CNS during development to become the resident immune cells of the brain. They have become increasingly implicated in the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases.

Quiescent

TMEM119 expression readily distinguishes resident microglia from blood-derived macrophages, making it a highly specific microglia marker.

Activated

Proteins such as Iba1 which are upregulated in microglial activation serve as useful markers to identify microglia in their activated state.

Chicken polyclonal
Iba1/AIF1in COS7 cells

Schwann cells are the myelinating cells of the peripheral nervous system. The high expression of proteins such as P-Zero Myelin Protein (MPZ) and MBP in these cells make antibodies against them them excellent Schwann cell markers.

Chicken polyclonal
P-Zero (green) in adult sciatic nerve