Cat. No.
MABL-2339
Application
immunotherapy, radioimmunotherapy, ELISA, IF, IHC
Isotype
Engineer antibody
Species Reactivity
Species independent
Clone No.
6D2
From
Recombinant Antibody
Specificity
This antibody binds melanin. Melanin is a natural pigment found in most organisms is produced in a specialized group of cells called the melanocytes.
Alternative Names
CHEBI:89634
UniProt
Immunogen
The original antibody was generated by immunizing 5-8 weeks old female BALB/c mice intraperitoneally with L-dopa melanin ghosts suspended in a 1:1 (vol/vol) emulsion of complete Freund's adjuvant. Digestion of in vitro-melanized C. neoformans cells with proteases, denaturant, and hot concentrated acid yields melanin particles that retain the shape of fungal cells and are therefore called melanin ghosts.
Application Notes
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungus that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis, predominantly in immunocompromised individuals. C. neoformans has a laccase (CNLAC1) that catalyzes the synthesis of polymerized melanin in vitro when the cells are grown in the presence of phenolic substrates, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa). The ability of Cryptococcus neoformans to synthesize polymerized melanin in vitro has been associated with virulence. The binding characterization of this antibody towards L-dopa melanin, synthetic melanin and melanin from Sepia officinalis was carried out using ELISA. The original mouse antibody was also used for the immunofluorescence stainings of lung and brain tissues from Mel+ or Mel− C. neoformans-infected rodents (PMID: 10768981).
Antibody First Published
Rosas et al. Synthesis of polymerized melanin by Cryptococcus neoformans in infected rodents. Infect Immun. 2000 May; 68(5): 2845–2853. PMID:10768981
Note on publication
Antibodies against Cryptococcus neoformans melanin were generated to be used in immunohistochemical studies of C. neoformans-infected rodents and to identify whether the fungus synthesizes polymerized melanin during the infection.
Size
100 μg Purified antibody.
Concentration
1 mg/ml.
Purification
Protein A affinity purified
Buffer
PBS with 0.02% Proclin 300.
Storage Recommendation
Store at 4⁰C for up to 3 months. For longer storage, aliquot and store at - 20⁰C.
