Affymetrix Launches NG Class™ Detergents for Superior Protein Analysis
15 February 2011 - 12:00AM
Business Wire
Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) today launched its Anatrace®
brand Neopentyl Glycol (NG) Class™ Detergents, the next generation
of detergents to significantly advance the study of integral
membrane proteins (IMPs), the most important proteins found in the
human genome. Developed by leading chemists, and available only
from Affymetrix, the NG Class represents a new family of detergents
based on the maltose-neopentyl amphiphile design first described in
a study recently published in the journal Nature Methods1. The new
NG Class was found to be more capable than current leading
detergents, such as n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (DDM), in promoting
crystallization of IMPs in preparation for structural and
functional studies.
“We are excited to make this breakthrough available to life
scientists who are intrigued by the mystery of these essential and
pervasive proteins,” said Andy Last, Chief Commercial Officer at
Affymetrix. “Our new NG Class Detergents give biologists enhanced
tools to solve the structure of membrane proteins using advanced
techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray
diffraction.”
Membrane proteins are important because they mediate the
transfer of materials and signals between cells and their
environment, and they account for a large portion of the human
genome’s coding region. Moreover, they are the target of 50 percent
of current pharmaceutical agents. Using most conventional
detergents, IMPs can be successfully extracted. However, due to the
hydrophobic nature of membrane proteins, they tend not to stabilize
and become denatured and/or aggregated after extraction. If IMPs
are not stabilized enough to crystallize, then they cannot be
effectively studied, nor fully understood.
In the December 2010 Nature Methods study, researchers
extensively compared the performance of new NG Class Detergents to
existing popular amphiphiles in several areas, including
extraction, stabilization, and crystallization. The study
demonstrated a “superior” performance in each of these categories
and concluded that “representatives of this maltose-neopentyl
glycol amphiphile family show favorable behavior relative to
conventional detergents, as manifested in multiple membrane protein
systems leading to enhanced structural stability and successful
crystallization” (Nature Methods, 2010).
Because membrane proteins have diverse sequences, shapes, and
properties, Affymetrix is launching a suite of three Anatrace brand
NG Class Detergents as substitutes for the three most popular
glucoside detergents, lauryl and decyl maltosides and octyl
glucoside.
About Affymetrix
Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical,
diagnostic, and biotechnology companies, as well as leading
academic, government, and nonprofit research institutes. More than
2,000 systems have been shipped around the world and more than
23,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the
technology.
Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and has
manufacturing facilities in Santa Clara, Cleveland, Ohio, and
Singapore. The company has about 1,000 employees worldwide and
maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe and Asia.
For more information about Affymetrix, please visit
http://www.affymetrix.com.
Forward-looking statements
All statements in this press release that are not historical are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements
regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs," "hopes,"
"intentions," "strategies" or the like. Such statements are subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected. These and
other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2009, and other SEC reports for subsequent
quarterly periods.
NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, Anatrace, and NG
Class are trademarks or registered trademarks of Affymetrix
Inc.
1 Chae, P. S., et al. Maltose-Neopentyl Glycol (MNG) Amphiphiles
for Solubilization, Stabilization and Crystallization of Membrane
Proteins. Nature Methods 7(12)1003-1008 (2010).
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