Neural Marker Guide
We offer a wide array of highly-specific neural cell markers in hosts such as chicken, mouse, and rabbit for ease in multiplexing. Many of our markers are also available in a variety of fluorophore-conjugated formats!
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The nervous system contains a number of specialized cell types in addition to neurons including microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. Distinct proteins expressed by each of these cell types in various phases serve as useful markers in identifying and characterizing these highly specialized cells.
For neuronal markers, start reading below, or jump to Glial and Schwann Cell Markers!
NEURONAL MARKERS
Neural Stem Cell Markers
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:
Nestin
SOX2
Doublecortin
E-cadherin
CXCR4
CD133
Musashi 1
Vimentin
Chicken polyclonal Nestin in dentate gyrus of the hippocampus
Neuron Markers
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.
c-Fos
β3 Tubulin
Doublecortin
GAP43
MAP2
Neu-N
Neurofilament Heavy
Neurofilament Medium
Neurofilament Light
Synaptophysin
NSE
Ki67
Chicken polyclonal Neu-N in auditory ganglion
Activated Neurons
Neuronal immediate early genes (IEGs) such as c-FOS are rapidly induced by neuronal activity and thus serve as excellent markers of activated neurons.
Immature Neurons
Proteins that are highly expressed in early stages of neuronal development such as beta III tubulin, doublecortin, and GAP43 can be useful in identifying migrating, immature neurons.
Mature Neurons
Proteins such as MAP2, NeuN, Neurofilaments, Synaptophysin, and NSE that show increased expression in later stages of neuronal development can be used to identify mature, differentiated neurons that are no longer capable of cell division.
Proliferating Neurons
Ki-67 is a nuclear protein that is considered to be essential for cellular proliferation since it is expressed only in active phases of the cell cycle (G1, S, G2 and mitosis) but not in resting phase G0. Ki-67 antibodies have therefore been widely used as markers of cell growth.
Synapse Markers
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
Post-Synaptic
Proteins such as PSD95 and shank family proteins are localized in post-synaptic terminals and therefore serve as excellent post-synaptic markers.
PSD95
Pan-MAGUK
Pan-Shank
Shank1
Shank2
Shank 3
GluR2
SAP102
Neuroligin 1
Neuroligin 2
Neuroligin 3
Homer 1
GABAAR γ2
Gephyrin
SAPAP3
NMDAR1
Dopaminergic Neuronal Markers
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.
Tyrosine Hydroxylase
Dopa Decarboxylase
Dopamine Transporter
Dopamine β-Hydroylase
Nurr1
VMAT2
Rabbit polyclonal
Tyrosine Hydroxylase in dopaminergic neurons
Glutamatergic Neuronal Markers
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.
NMDAR2B
NMDAR1
VGLUT1
VGLUT2
Rabbit polyclonal
NR2B in iPSC derived neurons
GABAergic Neuronal Markers
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.
GABAAR α1
GABAAR α2
GABAAR α3
GABAAR α4
GABAAR α5
GABAAR α6
GABAAR β1
GABAAR β2
GABAAR β3
GABAAR δ
GABAAR γ2
GABAAR ε
GABAAR π
GAD65/67
GABA Transporter 1 (GAT1)
GABABR1
GABABR2
Calbindin
Calretinin
Parvalbumin
Chicken polyclonal
GAD67 in Sph21 neuroblastoma cells
Cholinergic Neuronal Markers
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.
Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT)
VACHT
Mouse monoclonal
VACHT in coronal sections of rat cerebellum
Serotonergic Neuronal Markers
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.
Tryptophan Hydroxylase
DOPA Decarboxylase
VMAT2
Sheep polyclonal
VMAT2 in retinal sections
Axonal and Dendritic Markers
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.
Ankyrin G
Neurofascin
FGF14/FHF4
β4 Spectrin
Nav1 Sodium Channel
Neurofilament Light
Neurofilament Medium
Neurofilament Heavy
Tau
LN1CAM
MAP2
Chicken polyclonal
MAP2 in neurosphere cultures
Glial cells are non-neuronal cells which provide protection and support to neurons. Astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia are the glial cell types in the central nervous system. Schwann cells are a type of glial cell which make up the majority of glia in the peripheral nervous system. Antibodies against various glial proteins are useful in distinguishing the different glial cell types.
Astrocyte Markers
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.
GFAP
S100B
Aldh1L1
Aquaporin 4
Connexin 43
Mouse monoclonal GFAP in rat hippocampus
Oligodendrocyte Markers
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.
NG2 (CSPG4)
Olig2
Olig1
Myelin Basic Protein
CNP
MOG
Proteolipid Protein (PLP)
Rabbit polyclonal
Olig2 in primary rat cortical neuroepithelial cells
Microglia Markers
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.
TMEM119
Iba1 (AIF1)
TREM2
iNos
Coronin 1A
MAC-1 (cd11b)
Arginase 1
Sphingosine Kinase 1
Chicken polyclonal
Iba1/AIF1in COS7 cells
Schwann Cell Markers
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.
P-Zero Myelin Protein (MPZ)
Myelin Basic Protein
GAP43
S100B
SOX2
CNP
Proteolipid Protein
Chicken polyclonal
P-Zero (green) in adult sciatic nerve
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