Going by the book

2001 Biochemicals catalogueRochehttp://www.roche.com/diagnosticsWell ordered

Laboratory reagents and other products for molecular biology, cell biology, immunochemistry, biochemistry and drug and disease research are included in this year's catalogue from Roche. A new section on instruments features the LightCycler for quantitative PCR and the Lumi-Imager F1 workstation for quantitative detection of chemiluminescence. Ordering has been simplified by the addition of an alphabetical product index as well as an index of products by catalogue number.

2001–2002 catalogueVector Laboratorieshttp://www.vectorlabs.comBanish the blues

Vector's new catalogue lists nearly 500 products, including non-radioactive labelling and detection systems and Vectastain ABC kits. New products include Hematoxylin QS, a modified Mayer's haematoxylin designed to provide crisp, blue-violet nuclear staining, without a 'blueing' step, in less than 45 seconds. A new hydrophobic barrier pen, the ImmEdge, contains no ozone-depleting solvents and produces a heat-stable, water-repellent, lightly coloured barrier that keeps staining reagents localized on tissue section. Reagents for molecular biology include a new 5' EndTag nucleic acid labelling kit and biotinylated anti-maltose binding protein.

Endogen cataloguePiercehttp://www.piercenet.comWeb-based quiz

The Pierce Endogen Products Catalog features hundreds of products for laboratories engaged in immunology, protein chemistry, proteomic and molecular biology research, including technical and ordering information for dialysis and gas chromatography products. The catalogue features a year-long trivia quiz. Answers to more than 100 science-related trivia questions scattered throughout the catalogue may be submitted to a weekly quiz on the company's website.

SimplyBlue SafeStainInvitrogenhttp://www.invitrogen.comCoomassie G-250 stain

This ready-to-use stain does not require acid/alcohol fixatives or destains, and SimplyBlue can detect 1 g of protein after just 5 minutes in the staining reagent. An optional water-based destaining step may be performed to achieve maximum sensitivity, to as low as 7 ng of protein.

Laboratory ProductsMillipore Corporationhttp://www.millipore.comThe 2001–2002 Laboratory Products catalogue

Millipore offers thousands of membrane-based products for purifying and concentrating samples for molecular biology, protein chemistry applications, and assay development, as well as products for decontaminating fluids. Millipore manufactures products in facilities that comply with IS0 and GMP requirements. The catalogue includes sample preparation products for genomics, proteomics, drug discovery and sterile filtration. New products featured in this catalogue include Montage Life Science Kits for nucleic acid research. The Montage Kits have been specifically developed to provide life scientists with complete and ready-to-use packages of components for select nucleic acid applications.

Centrifuge accessoriesNalge Nunc Internationalhttp://www.nalgenunc.comTubes for all occasions

The 2001 catalogue of Nalgene Centrifuge Tubes and Bottles provides product information on a wide selection of centrifuge tubes, bottles, closures and adapters, offering sizes and resin types to fit almost any assay requirement. Tubes are moulded from bioanalytical-grade resins. The range includes conical tubes, round-bottom tubes, Oak Ridge tubes and Ultratubes, all sized to fit the latest generation of lightweight carbon-fibre/composite rotors.

BioWestUVPhttp://www.uvp.comSensitive chemiluminescent detection

This HRP-based, non-isotopic, horseradish peroxidase substrate kit is designed for enhanced chemiluminescent Western blot and ELISA detection, and is claimed to be 25 times more sensitive than other peroxidase-based kits. The duration and high signal intensity generated are easily identified and femtogram level detection visibly achieved. The kit is specifically formulated for use with CCD camera-based detection systems.

Autokit CH50Wakohttp://www.wakousa.comLiposome-based assay for total complement activity

Autokit CH50 is a fully automated homogeneous liposome-based assay system for total complement activity in human serum. The complement cascade, consisting of approximately 20 serum proteins, plays an important role in the body's immunological defence system. The assay is based on immune lysis of liposomes. A sample is mixed with the liposome and the substrate, the antibody in the reagent combined with dinitrophenyl on the liposomes and complements in the sample activated by the antigen–antibody complex. The activated complements break the membrane of the liposome. The enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) contained in the liposome reacts with NAD and glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) in the reagent. During this enzyme reaction the NAD is reduced to NADH and, as a result, absorbance at 340 nm increases. Total precision studies give 3.2% CV and 5.7% CV at mean concentrations of 48.3 and 26.9 U per ml, respectively. The linearity of the assay is up to 65U per ml, with a lower limit of detection of 10U per ml.

RNAequous-96Ambionhttp://www.ambion.comA new high-throughput RNA isolation kit

Suitable for isolation of total RNA from cells or tissue in a high-throughput, 96-well plate format, this kit provides high yields of pure RNA free of contaminating RNases and genomic DNA and compatible with both real-time and end-point RT-PCR analysis. It can be used with many high-throughput vacuum manifolds and centrifuges.

CISProChemSWhttp://www.chemsw.comWeb-wise chemical inventory system

This version of the company's Chemical Inventory system (CIS) provides access to real-time, company-wide chemical inventory information using Internet Explorer. The system eliminates the need to configure individual workstations and facilitates distribution and administration of the comprehensive chemical inventory system over widespread areas of the user company.

Filtration platesSchleicher & Schuellhttp://www.s-und-s.deEasy-to-use plates for fast filtration

This new range of filter plates from S&S is marketed as a cost-effective solution for high filtration throughput for a range of applications including micro/macro array, cell harvesting, DNA separations and general sample clean. The plates incorporate a glass fibre support to enhance flow rate in filtration applications. They are available in a standard format, 96-well plate and can simultaneously filter 96 samples of up to 350 l volume. The wells are individually sealed with an individual drainage spout which directs eluant into the collection plate wells, resulting in a significant reduction in cross-talk, a contamination problem which can occur with other products.

Amplifluor Apoptosis Gene SystemsIntergenhttp://www.intergenco.comGood housekeeping

The need for post-PCR manipulation is eliminated with these systems, which are based on incorporation of energy transfer-labelled hairpin primers into the amplification product. The primers are designed so that a fluorescent signal is generated when the primer is unfolded during its incorporation into an amplification product. This signal directly correlates with the accumulation of PCR product at each cycle. Unincorporated primers have a low fluorescence signal, allowing PCR and fluorescent signal detection to take place in a single reaction vessel, with no need to purify the PCR reaction prior to quantification. Either end-point or real-time fluorescence detection methods can be used. The systems detect mRNA expression of the apoptotic genes bcl-2, bax-a, fas and bclX (long). Housekeeping gene systems control for sample-to-sample variation in RNA quality and quantity and cDNA conversion efficiency by normalizing levels of amplified cDNA targets of interest to -actin, GAPDH or 18S rRNA.

Life SciencesPromegahttp://www.promega.comThe 2001 catalogue

The Promega Life Science catalogue 2001, now available, has been revised to include more comprehensive information, and to integrate with the company's website for more detailed product and technical information. Literature, references and interactive troubleshooting zones can be found at http://www.promega.com and the online catalogue and price list is updated daily with new and discontinued products.

KillerTRAILAlexis Biochemicalshttp://www.alexis-corp.comKiller application for manipulating cell death

KillerTRAIL is a recombinant protein that induces apoptosis in a variety of TRAIL-sensitive cells (TRAIL is TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand). It binds to both human and mouse TRAIL receptors and does not require a cross-linker for biological activity. Anti-TRAIL MAb 2E5 neutralizes the activity of KillerTRAIL as well as other sources of soluble recombinant human TRAIL. The combination of KillerTRAIL and anti-TRAIL MAb 2E5 provides cancer researchers with a powerful tool for rapidly inducing and inhibiting cell death in TRAIL-related research

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