posted 03-03-2010 07:54 PM            

The RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) tripeptide motif can be found in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, prothrombin, tenascin, thrombospondin, vitronectin, von Willebrand factor, Adenovirus penton base protein, bone sialoprotein, collagen, decorsin, disintegrins.1-2 The exposed RGD motif constitutes a major recognition site for integrin binding.3 Integrin, a transmembrane heterodimeric protein, is an adhesion protein consisting of an alpha and a beta subunit. Interaction of integrin with ECM proteins modulates vital bidirectional signals during morphogenesis, tissue remodeling and repair.4-5 A well-studied interaction between integrin and ECM protein is that of avb3 integrin with Fibronectin (FN), a major ECM protein (Figure 1). This interaction modulates processes such as cell migration, adhesion and angiogenesis 5-6 FN contains FNIII repeats, with pockets of RGD. Synthetic cyclic RGD peptides have been found to be selective and potent avb3 integrin antagonist resulting in inhibition of angiogenesis.6

As part of its GO™ Peptides collection, AnaSpec has introduced a selection of cyclic and non-cyclic RGD peptides.

References:

1. Brooks, PC. Eur. J. Cancer 32a: 2423 (1996).
2. Plow, EF. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 275, 21785 (2000).
3. Ruoslahti, E. Ann. Rev. Cell Dev. Bio. 12, 697 (1996).
4. Humphries, MJ. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 28, 311 (2000).
5. Xiong, J-P. et al. Science 296, 5565 (2002).
6. Elceiri, BP. and DA. Cheresh, J. Clin. Invest. 103, 1227 (1999).

About AnaSpec

AnaSpec is a leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions to the world’s largest biotech, pharmaceutical, and academic research institutions. With a vision for innovation through synergy, AnaSpec focuses on three core technologies: peptides, detection reagents, and antibodies.

AnaSpec recently joined forces with Eurogentec to provide an even broader spectrum of products and services to serve the worldwide life science community.

For more information visit www.anaspec.com

About Eurogentec

Eurogentec is a leading global supplier of innovative reagents, kits, specialty products and custom services to scientists in the life science, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and diagnostic markets. Eurogentec provides a wide range of expertize in small- and large-scale DNA, RNA, PCR and qPCR kits, peptide synthesis and antibody supply for research applications. Our ISO13485:2003-certified manufacturing facilities in Belgium provides a wide range of high value oligonucleotide-based components for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Eurogentec’s Belgium manufacturing facility is complemented by additional production facilities in North America and Japan. Eurogentec is also an experienced Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) for Biopharmaceuticals, operating a full-service, state-of-the-art GMP facility in Belgium.

Eurogentec is a privately held company headquartered in Liège, Belgium, with subsidiaries in North America, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland and has additional production facilities in North America, Japan and Singapore. Eurogentec employs 400+ people globally.

For more information visit www.eurogentec.com

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