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What are Peptide Aptamers?

Peptide aptamers are small, artificial polypeptides, which bind to target proteins in a highly specific manner, similar to antibodies. These proteins can occur naturally or they may be artificially created.

1 Nov 2018

Short Hairpin RNA (shRNA) Interference

RNA serves a wide variety of roles within a cell, carrying out catalytic, regulatory, structural and genetic transferal functions. A type of artificial RNA, called short hairpin RNA (shRNA), contains a tight hairpin turn and is frequently used to silence genes in a process called shRNA interference.

1 Nov 2018

High-throughput Screening Using Small Molecule Libraries

Small molecule libraries are often used in drug discovery to find molecules with the greatest activity or inhibitory potential against a particular target.

1 Nov 2018

Hit Selection in High-Throughput Screening

High-throughput screening (HTS) allows scientists to test thousands of samples at once.

1 Nov 2018

Interfering Factors in Assay Design

There are several factors that may affect the sensitivity and reliability of an assay. These must be considered when selecting a signal amplification system.

1 Nov 2018

Fundamentals of Assay Design and Development

This article describes important factors that must be taken into account when designing an assay for the life sciences, including drug development.

1 Nov 2018

How Does Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing Work?

Recent advances in sequencing techniques have allowed whole genome sequencing to become more common and quicker. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) is one such next generation sequencing technique that allows users to analyze DNA methylation at single base resolution.

31 Oct 2018

Applications of Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS)

Whole genome bisulfite sequencing, or WGBS, is a next-generation sequencing technique to analyze DNA methylation.

31 Oct 2018

What is High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet (HPLC-UV)?

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) is a technique used to separate molecules and measure their concentration.

31 Oct 2018

What is Pyrosequencing?

Pyrosequencing is a method of DNA sequencing that detects light emitted from nucleotide bases. By comparing the relative amount of light emitted, the sequence is uncovered.

31 Oct 2018

Keto- and Enol Tautomerism in Sugars

Ketones are in equilibrium with a form known as an enol. The name enol derives from the fact that enols are a combination of a carbonyl (C=O) containing group, such as an aldehyde or ketone and an alcohol hydroxyl (OH) group. The interconversion between these two forms arises from a process called tautomerism.

30 Oct 2018

Imine Hydrolysis

Imines are one of several reactive groups, called functional groups, that are present in a compound. The mechanism by which the compound reacts is attributed to the properties of its functional group.

30 Oct 2018

Overview of Strecker Amino Acid Synthesis

Strecker synthesis is one of several means of producing α-amino acids. α-amino acids are molecules, which contain an amine and carboxylic group that are separated by a single carbon (the α-carbon).

30 Oct 2018

Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (HS-PME)

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-PME) is a technique which is used to prepare samples. This technique does not require the use of solvents, therefore it is suitable for preparing samples that are volatile, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylenes.

29 Oct 2018

The Relationship Between Serotonin and 5-HTP

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a naturally occurring amino acid produced from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. 5-HTP is the precursor for neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit a nerve impulse across neuronal gaps that are called synapses. These neurotransmitters include serotonin and melatonin.

29 Oct 2018

Antibody-Mediated Pathogen Resistance

Resistance to external pathogens by an organism’s immune system has been strongly debated by life scientists for many years. Mainly observed in plants, antibody-mediated pathogen resistance is achieved when the expression of certain antibodies or antibody fragments causes the external pathogen to be inactivated via antibody attachment.

29 Oct 2018