EnCor Biotechnology

Last updated
EnCor Biotechnology
Company type Private
Industry Biotechnology
FounderGerry Shaw
Headquarters
Gainesville, Florida
,
United States
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
Gerry Shaw
Products Antibodies to neural and yeast proteins
Website Homepage of EnCor

EnCor Biotechnology is an American company that manufactures monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies with a focus on reagents targeting neural proteins. EnCor was founded in 1999 as a spin-off from the University of Florida by Gerry Shaw, a British scientist initially a professor in the Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, and now professor emeritus. The company is based in Gainesville, Florida and markets high quality and very well characterized antibody reagents at reasonable prices.

Contents

History

During his early career at the University of Florida in the 1990s certain of his antibodies made originally for research purposes were licensed to outside companies for sale. Some of these are still today sold by vendors such as Cell Signaling Technology, which however charges what Dr. Shaw regards as unreasonably high prices for them. EnCor Biotechnology was therefore formed at the end of 1999 initially to market antibody reagents made in Dr. Shaw's research laboratory at more reasonable prices. [1] In late 2001 EnCor rented lab space at the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator, a facility dedicated to commercialization of intellectual property generated in the University of Florida. Following this move the EnCor laboratory produced an increasing number of novel antibodies which were made, characterized, documented, manufactured and subjected to rigorous quality control. The company quickly therefore increased the number of reagents available for sale and soon become profitable and, in 2006, relocated to new premises in Gainesville. [2] The Gainesville facility has now expanded to three times the original size.

Rat brain cells grown in tissue culture and stained, in green, with an EnCor mouse monoclonal antibody to neurofilament subunit NF-L, (HGNC name NEFL), which reveals a large neuron. The cells in the above image were also stained in red with an EnCor rabbit antibody to a-internexin, which in this culture is found in neuronal stem cells. Neuron in tissue culture.jpg
Rat brain cells grown in tissue culture and stained, in green, with an EnCor mouse monoclonal antibody to neurofilament subunit NF-L, (HGNC name NEFL), which reveals a large neuron. The cells in the above image were also stained in red with an EnCor rabbit antibody to α-internexin, which in this culture is found in neuronal stem cells.
A formalin fixed and paraffin embedded section of human cerebellum stained with an EnCor mouse monoclonal antibody to NF-L revealed with a brown dye, cell nuclei are revealed with a blue dye. Nuclear rich region at left is the cerebellar granular layer, the region at the right with fewer nuclei is the cerebellar molecular layer. The NF-L antibody binds processes of basket cells, parallel fiber axons, the perikarya of Purkinje and some smaller neurons and various other fine axons. MCA-6H112 NFL 4K citra HuCbl 20X 02-wiki.jpg
A formalin fixed and paraffin embedded section of human cerebellum stained with an EnCor mouse monoclonal antibody to NF-L revealed with a brown dye, cell nuclei are revealed with a blue dye. Nuclear rich region at left is the cerebellar granular layer, the region at the right with fewer nuclei is the cerebellar molecular layer. The NF-L antibody binds processes of basket cells, parallel fiber axons, the perikarya of Purkinje and some smaller neurons and various other fine axons.

EnCor has always collaborated with basic scientists and clinicians to produce articles in peer-reviewed scientific publications focused on the examination of various plasma, serum and CSF biomarkers of nervous system damage and degeneration. One of these is the phosphorylated, axonal form of the major neurofilament protein heavy chain protein which has the HGNC name NEFH, [3] [4] [5] [6] though is usually referred to as pNF-H in the scientific literature. Two further studies describe novel EnCor assays for UCHL1 [7] and alpha-synuclein, [8] two major brain proteins implicated in the development of Parkinson's and other neurological diseases. In 2022 EnCor, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Florida described a novel class of antibodies to neurofilament light chain with the HGNC name NEFL, although the protein is usually referred to as NF-L. Surprisingly, one class of these antibodies bind epitopes hidden in healthy neurons and their processes but which are revealed on degeneration. Another class of antibody to neurofilament NF-L was shown to bind only neurofilaments in healthy neurons and their processes but failed to recognize degenerating and degenerated neurons and processes. [9] The antibodies degeneration specific antibodies have been dubbed "DegenoTag" reagents and should have wide utility for researchers on neurodegeneration. By 2022, the EnCor product line had increased to over 250 items, the antibodies mostly being used for research purposes, with a particular focus on immunocytochemistry and western blotting, though many are also utilized for immunocytochemistry, immunoprecipitation and ELISA. Some have become useful for diagnostic histopathology and for monitoring the levels of protein biomarkers, of research and potential clinical utility. EnCor supplies reagents to research labs and other reagent companies such as Abcam, BioLegend, Thermo Fisher Scientific, EMD Millipore, Bio-Techne and many others. EnCor is well known for the quality of its cell, tissue and western blotting images, many of which have been made available on Wikipedia Commons and widely used in books, articles, posters, for teaching, advertising and many other purposes, see .

Key EnCor Publications

Related Research Articles

Internexin, alpha-internexin, is a Class IV intermediate filament approximately 66 KDa. The protein was originally purified from rat optic nerve and spinal cord. The protein copurifies with other neurofilament subunits, as it was originally discovered, however in some mature neurons it can be the only neurofilament expressed. The protein is present in developing neuroblasts and in the central nervous system of adults. The protein is a major component of the intermediate filament network in small interneurons and cerebellar granule cells, where it is present in the parallel fibers.

Neurofilaments (NF) are classed as type IV intermediate filaments found in the cytoplasm of neurons. They are protein polymers measuring 10 nm in diameter and many micrometers in length. Together with microtubules (~25 nm) and microfilaments (7 nm), they form the neuronal cytoskeleton. They are believed to function primarily to provide structural support for axons and to regulate axon diameter, which influences nerve conduction velocity. The proteins that form neurofilaments are members of the intermediate filament protein family, which is divided into six types based on their gene organization and protein structure. Types I and II are the keratins which are expressed in epithelia. Type III contains the proteins vimentin, desmin, peripherin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Type IV consists of the neurofilament proteins NF-L, NF-M, NF-H and α-internexin. Type V consists of the nuclear lamins, and type VI consists of the protein nestin. The type IV intermediate filament genes all share two unique introns not found in other intermediate filament gene sequences, suggesting a common evolutionary origin from one primitive type IV gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14-3-3 protein</span> Family of conserved regulatory molecules

14-3-3 proteins are a family of conserved regulatory molecules that are expressed in all eukaryotic cells. 14-3-3 proteins have the ability to bind a multitude of functionally diverse signaling proteins, including kinases, phosphatases, and transmembrane receptors. More than 200 signaling proteins have been reported as 14-3-3 ligands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectrin</span> Cytoskeletal protein

Spectrin is a cytoskeletal protein that lines the intracellular side of the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells. Spectrin forms pentagonal or hexagonal arrangements, forming a scaffold and playing an important role in maintenance of plasma membrane integrity and cytoskeletal structure. The hexagonal arrangements are formed by tetramers of spectrin subunits associating with short actin filaments at either end of the tetramer. These short actin filaments act as junctional complexes allowing the formation of the hexagonal mesh. The protein is named spectrin since it was first isolated as a major protein component of human red blood cells which had been treated with mild detergents; the detergents lysed the cells and the hemoglobin and other cytoplasmic components were washed out. In the light microscope the basic shape of the red blood cell could still be seen as the spectrin-containing submembranous cytoskeleton preserved the shape of the cell in outline. This became known as a red blood cell "ghost" (spectre), and so the major protein of the ghost was named spectrin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tauopathy</span> Medical condition

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the aggregation of abnormal tau protein. Hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins causes them to dissociate from microtubules and form insoluble aggregates called neurofibrillary tangles. Various neuropathologic phenotypes have been described based on the anatomical regions and cell types involved as well as the unique tau isoforms making up these deposits. The designation 'primary tauopathy' is assigned to disorders where the predominant feature is the deposition of tau protein. Alternatively, diseases exhibiting tau pathologies attributed to different and varied underlying causes are termed 'secondary tauopathies'. Some neuropathologic phenotypes involving tau protein are Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor</span> Human protein-coding gene

The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) was first identified in 1973 as the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR) before discovery that p75NTR bound other neurotrophins equally well as nerve growth factor. p75NTR is a neurotrophic factor receptor. Neurotrophic factor receptors bind Neurotrophins including Nerve growth factor, Neurotrophin-3, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and Neurotrophin-4. All neurotrophins bind to p75NTR. This also includes the immature pro-neurotrophin forms. Neurotrophic factor receptors, including p75NTR, are responsible for ensuring a proper density to target ratio of developing neurons, refining broader maps in development into precise connections. p75NTR is involved in pathways that promote neuronal survival and neuronal death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antibody microarray</span> Form of protein microarray

An antibody microarray is a specific form of protein microarray. In this technology, a collection of captured antibodies are spotted and fixed on a solid surface such as glass, plastic, membrane, or silicon chip, and the interaction between the antibody and its target antigen is detected. Antibody microarrays are often used for detecting protein expression from various biofluids including serum, plasma and cell or tissue lysates. Antibody arrays may be used for both basic research and medical and diagnostic applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gephyrin</span> Type of protein

Gephyrin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GPHN gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RELA</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Transcription factor p65 also known as nuclear factor NF-kappa-B p65 subunit is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RELA gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HMGB1</span> Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

High mobility group box 1 protein, also known as high-mobility group protein 1 (HMG-1) and amphoterin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HMGB1 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SPTAN1</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Alpha II-spectrin, also known as Spectrin alpha chain, brain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SPTAN1 gene. Alpha II-spectrin is expressed in a variety of tissues, and is highly expressed in cardiac muscle at Z-disc structures, costameres and at the sarcolemma membrane. Mutations in alpha II-spectrin have been associated with early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-5, and alpha II-spectrin may be a valuable biomarker for Guillain–Barré syndrome and infantile congenital heart disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TAR DNA-binding protein 43</span> Protein found in humans

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TARDBP gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NEFM</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Neurofilament medium polypeptide (NF-M) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NEFM gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CARD11</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 11 also known as CARD-containing MAGUK protein 1 is a protein in the CARD-CC protein family that in humans is encoded by the CARD11 gene. CARD 11 is a membrane associated protein that is found in various human tissues, including the thymus, spleen, liver, and peripheral blood leukocytes. Similarly, CARD 11 is also found in abundance in various lines of cancer cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gigaxonin</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Gigaxonin also known as kelch-like protein 16 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GAN gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death receptor 6</span> Protein found in humans

Death receptor 6 (DR6), also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 21 (TNFRSF21), is a cell surface receptor of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily which activates the JNK and NF-κB pathways. It is mostly expressed in the thymus, spleen and white blood cells. The Gene for DR6 is 78,450 bases long and is found on the 6th chromosome. This is transcribed into a 655 amino acid chain weighing 71.8 kDa. Post transcriptional modifications of this protein include glycosylation on the asparagines at the 82, 141, 252, 257, 278, and 289 amino acid locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclin-dependent kinase 5</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 is a protein, and more specifically an enzyme, that is encoded by the Cdk5 gene. It was discovered 15 years ago, and it is saliently expressed in post-mitotic central nervous system neurons (CNS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neurofilament light polypeptide</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Neurofilament light polypeptide, also known as neurofilament light chain, abbreviated to NF-L or Nfl and with the HGNC name NEFL is a member of the intermediate filament protein family. This protein family consists of over 50 human proteins divided into 5 major classes, the Class I and II keratins, Class III vimentin, GFAP, desmin and the others, the Class IV neurofilaments and the Class V nuclear lamins. There are four major neurofilament subunits, NF-L, NF-M, NF-H and α-internexin. These form heteropolymers which assemble to produce 10nm neurofilaments which are only expressed in neurons where they are major structural proteins, particularly concentrated in large projection axons. Axons are particularly sensitive to mechanical and metabolic compromise and as a result axonal degeneration is a significant problem in many neurological disorders. The detection of neurofilament subunits in CSF and blood has therefore become widely used as a biomarker of ongoing axonal compromise. The NF-L protein is encoded by the NEFL gene. Neurofilament light chain is a biomarker that can be measured with immunoassays in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma and reflects axonal damage in a wide variety of neurological disorders. It is a useful marker for disease monitoring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and more recently Huntington's disease. It is also promising marker for follow-up of patients with brain tumors. Higher levels of blood or CSF NF-L have been associated with increased mortality, as would be expected as release of this protein reflects ongoing axonal loss. Recent work performed as a collaboration between EnCor Biotechnology Inc. and the University of Florida showed that the NF-L antibodies employed in the most widely used NF-L assays are specific for cleaved forms of NF-L generated by proteolysis induced by cell death. Methods used in different studies for NfL measurement are sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), electrochemiluminescence, and high-sensitive single molecule array (SIMOA).

Several biomarkers for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, disease evolution and response to medication are under research. While most of them are still under research, there are some of them already well stablished:

Mathias Jucker is a Swiss neuroscientist, Professor, and a Director at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research of the University of Tübingen. He is also a group leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Tübingen. Jucker is known for his research on the basic biologic mechanisms underlying brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.

References

  1. ↑ "Biotech venture | Gainesville.com". gainesville.com. 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "UF professor's biotech firm graduates | Gainesville.com". gainesville.com. 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Shaw G, Yang C, Ellis R, Anderson K, Parker Mickle J, Scheff S, Pike B, Anderson DK, Howland DR (Nov 2005). "Hyperphosphorylated neurofilament NF-H is a serum biomarker of axonal injury". Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 336 (4): 1268–1277. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.08.252. PMID   16176808.
  4. ↑ Anderson KJ, Scheff SW, Miller KM, Roberts KN, Gilmer LK, Yang C, Shaw G (Sep 2008). "The phosphorylated axonal form of the neurofilament subunit NF-H (pNF-H) as a blood biomarker of traumatic brain injury". J. Neurotrauma . 25 (9): 1079–1085. doi:10.1089/neu.2007.0488. PMC   2820728 . PMID   18729720.
  5. ↑ Gresle MM, Shaw G, Jarrott B, Alexandrou EN, Friedhuber A, Kilpatrick TJ, Butzkueven H (Dec 2008). "Validation of a novel biomarker for acute axonal injury in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis". J. Neurosci. Res. 86 (16): 3548–3555. doi:10.1002/jnr.21803. PMID   18709652. S2CID   1453588.
  6. ↑ Boylan K, Yang C, Crook J, Overstreet K, Heckman M, Wang Y, Borchelt D, Shaw G (Dec 2009). "Immunoreactivity of the phosphorylated axonal neurofilament H subunit (pNF-H) in blood of ALS model rodents and ALS patients: evaluation of blood pNF-H as a potential ALS biomarker". J. Neurochem. 111 (5): 1182–1191. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06386.x . PMID   19765193.
  7. ↑ Lewis SB, Wolper R, Chi YY, Miralia L, Wang Y, Yang C, Shaw G (May 2010). "Identification and preliminary characterization of ubiquitin C terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL1) as a biomarker of neuronal loss in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage". J. Neurosci. Res. 88 (7): 1475–1484. doi: 10.1002/jnr.22323 . PMID   20077430. S2CID   25734633.
  8. ↑ Tinsley RB, Kotschet K, Modesto D, Ng H, Wang Y, Nagley P, Shaw G, Horne MK (Sep 2010). "Sensitive and specific detection of α-synuclein in human plasma". J. Neurosci. Res. 88 (12): 2693–2700. doi:10.1002/jnr.22417. PMID   20648655. S2CID   22613058.
  9. ↑ Shaw, Gerry; Madorsky, Irina; Li, Ying; Wang, YongSheng; Jorgensen, Marda; Rana, Sabhya; Fuller, David D (2023-03-02). "Uman-type neurofilament light antibodies are effective reagents for the imaging of neurodegeneration". Brain Communications. 5 (2). doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcad067. ISSN   2632-1297. PMC   10120172 . PMID   37091583.
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