Bristol and Cambridge, UK, April 08, 2013: Abcam Plc., a producer and distributor of high quality protein research tools, and Columbia University, announced today that they have entered into an exclusive license agreement for two novel pH-responsive fluorescent false neurotransmitters (FFNs). FFNs are probes which act as optical tracers, allowing imaging of neurotransmitter release from individual presynaptic terminals in the brain. Under the terms of the agreement, Abcam Biochemicals will provide the FFN compounds to its customers as part of the Abcam Biochemicals range, to support both fundamental and applied neurobiological research, including neurodegeneration and drug addiction.
The two FFNs licenced by Abcam are FFN102 and FFN202, which are first-of-a-kind small molecules that act as pH sensors. FFN102, which allows measurement of activity at dopamine synapses, enables the further study of synaptic plasticity by allowing optical imaging of dopaminergic presynaptic terminals. FFN202 may be used to screen drugs and other molecules to examine their effects on the pH of secretory vesicles.
Both FFN102 and FFN202 are sufficiently bright, photostable and suitable for two-photon and standard fluorescence microscopy and are compatible with GFP tags.
Steve Roome, general manager of Abcam Biochemicals explains “This is now our third collaboration with Columbia University, and we are delighted to be working with them again. Entering into such a license agreement will allow us to offer the ground-breaking FFN102 (Mini102) and FFN202 (Mini202) compounds to researchers, and both are now available as part of the Abcam Biochemicals range.”
To find out more please visit www.abcam.com/ffn
For a high resolution version of the illustration please contact Zyme Communications
References
Lee et al. Development of pH-Responsive Fluorescent False Neurotransmitters. J Am Chem Soc. 132:8828-30 (2010). Rodriguez et al. Fluorescent dopamine tracer resolves individual dopaminergic synapses and their activity in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 110:870-5 (2013).
Contacts:
For Abcam
Katie Odgaard
Zyme Communications
Phone: +44 (0)7787 502 947
Email: katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
Abcam Biochemicals
Dr Steve Roome
General Manager
Phone: +44 (0)117 982 9988
Email: steve.roome@abcam.co.uk
Columbia Technology Ventures
Dr. Beth Kauderer
Email: techventures@columbia.edu
About Abcam
Abcam is a producer and distributor of high quality protein research tools. These tools enable life scientists to analyse components of living cells at the molecular level, which is essential in understanding health and disease.
Headquartered in Cambridge (UK), Abcam has subsidiary offices in Bristol (UK), Cambridge, MA (USA), Eugene, OR (USA), San Francisco, CA (USA), Tokyo (Japan), Hangzhou and Hong Kong (both in China), allowing it to serve a global customer base in over 130 countries. Abcam employs over 680 staff across its eight operating companies.
Abcam now has an online catalogue of over 105,000 products sourced from over 400 suppliers. The catalogue includes a growing range of non-primary antibody products such as secondaries, proteins, peptides, lysates, immunoassays and other kits. Products are available for life science research and distributed to academic and commercial users. A highly developed eCommerce platform, which includes regional websites for the Chinese and Japanese markets, allows customers to access up-to-date and detailed technical product data sheets at the Company’s website www.abcam.com.
About Abcam Biochemicals
Abcam Biochemicals, a division of Abcam, offers a range of exceptional quality and high performance biochemicals. The range includes high purity agonists, antagonists, channel blockers, enzyme inhibitors and signaling tools for life science research.
About Columbia Technology Ventures
A leading academic and research university, Columbia University continually seeks to advance the frontiers of knowledge and to foster a campus community deeply engaged in understanding and addressing the complex global issues of our time. Columbia University’s technology transfer office, Columbia Technology Ventures, manages Columbia’s intellectual property portfolio and serves as the university’s gateway for companies and entrepreneurs seeking novel technology solutions. Our core mission is to facilitate the transfer of inventions from academic research to outside organizations for the benefit of society on a local, national and global basis. For more information on Columbia Technology Ventures, please visit www.techventures.columbia.edu.
