Anti-Myelin Basic Protein (MBP)

Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) is one of the major proteins of the myelin sheath surrounding axons in the nervous system. Since it is of relatively low molecular weight and high abundance the protein sequence was determined from purified protein over 30 years ago (1). The protein is made by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system, so antibodies to MBP are good markers of this cell type. However, transcripts from the same gene are also expressed in certain hematopoetic lineage cells (2). In the central nervous system there are four different forms of the protein made by alternate transcription from a single gene, which have molecular weights of 21.5, 20.5, 18.5, and 17.2kD in humans. The single gene of rodents also produces 4 different proteins, but of slightly different sizes, 21.5, 18.5, 17 and 14kD. Sequence alignments of both sets of isotypes can be downloaded from here. The antibody was characterized on rat spinal cord homogenates and detected the four bands expected for that species. Since this antibody binds all four bands it is therefore a pan-specific MBP antibody, recognizing a common epitope in all four gene products. The HGNC name for this protein is MBP. Applications: Suitable for use in Immunofluorescence and Western Blot. A suitable control tissue is rat spinal cord or peripheral nerve homogenate. The major isoforms of MBP run as a closely spaced set of bands between of 21.5kD and 14kD for rodent and 21.5kD to 17kD for human. Other applications not tested. Recommended Dilution: Immunofluorescence: 1:1000, Western Blot: 1:10,000, Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher. Storage and Stability: May be stored at 4°C for short-term only. Aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Store at -20°C. Aliquots are stable for 12 months. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap.