Neural progenitor cell antibodies: Bf1, Crx, Emx1, Irx3, L7/Pcp2, Otp, Otx2, Rx, and Six3

Neural progenitor cells express characteristic protein biomarkers, and antibodies to these biomarkers allow analysis of cell differentiation during embryonic development and organogenesis. These antibodies are of particular use for studies in the field of regenerative medicine, may be used as neurogenesis differentiation markers with ES or iPS cells, and are suitable for immunohistochemistry on fixed tissue and Western blotting.

L7 antibodies allow detection of Purkinje cells, which are the output neurons of the cerebellar cortex. Otp antibodies can be used to identify differentiating hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells. Antibodies to Emx1 allow detection of this cerebral cortical marker during early embryogenesis. Six3 antibodies have been used to study generation of rostral hypothalamic-like progenitors from mouse ES cell-derived neuroectodermal cells. Otx2 antibodies have been used to study differentiation of retinal progenitors in embryonic neural retina and induced ES cells in culture. The transcription factor detected by anti-Brain Factor 1 (Bf1) antibodies localizes to cerebral nerve precursor cells in a rostral region called the telencephalon. Rx antibodies detect a transcription factor critical for protein expression in retinal progenitor cells. Antibodies to Iroquois Homeobox Protein 3 (Irx3) can be used to study early development of the central nervous system and the caudal nerves. Detection of the photoreceptor-specific transcription factor Cone-rod homeobox protein (Crx) with anti-Crx antibodies enables study of the development and differentiation of retinal photoreceptor cells and the pineal gland.

These polyclonal antibodies were developed in the laboratory of Yoshiki Sasai, MD, PhD, Center for Developmental Biology (RIKEN).