- Enables detection of multiple pluripotency markers in a single measurement
- Distinguishes pluripotent stem cells from multipotent or differentiating cells
- Offers significant advantages over existing protein detection techniques, which detect only a single or limited number of proteins with a semi-quantitative output for a single sample
May 6, 2013, Billerica, MA - EMD Millipore, the life science division of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, today announced availability of the MILLIPLEX® map Human Stem Cell Pluripotency Magnetic Bead Kits, which enable the analysis of many different pluripotency biomarkers in a single measurement. These kits are the first commercially available multiplexed protein biomarker assays based on the Luminex® xMAP® platform for this important research area. This new application of trusted bead-based multiplex technology gives researchers rapid feedback on the potency status of stem cell cultures and offers a significant advantage over existing techniques, which detect a limited number of proteins with a semi-quantitative output for a single sample.
EMD Millipore's new MILLIPLEX® map kits examine protein biomarkers that indicate the potency of stem cells, enabling pluripotent stem cells to be distinguished from multipotent or differentiating cells. These new kits save time and resources by accurately detecting large numbers of pluripotency markers in one measurement. Kits can be used on cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells, human embryonic stem cells, cancer stem cells or cancer cell lines.
Two kits are available for assessing stem cell pluripotency. The MILLIPLEX® map Human Stem Cell Pluripotency Magnetic Bead Kit 1 monitors the expression of the transcription factors Oct 3/4, Sox2, Nanog and c-Myc, which play critical roles in the maintenance of pluripotency and self-renewal in stem cells. The MILLIPLEX® map Human Stem Cell Pluripotency Magnetic Bead Kit 2 contains seven additional pluripotency-related markers, including a transcription factor, a translational regulator, transmembrane proteins and cell surface glycostructures. These assays are essential for assessing the potency of stem cell cultures in studies ranging from cancer and developmental biology research to bioprocess monitoring. MILLIPLEX® map assays make it easy to analyze both cell surface and intracellular proteins.
"The MILLIPLEX® map Stem Cell Pluripotency Kit 1 is a valuable tool for stem cell research. We obtained very interesting and promising results," said Frank Edenhofer, Ph.D., Head of the Stem Cell Engineering Group, Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn, LIFE & BRAIN Center. "It is noteworthy that this assay enabled us to observe even early onset of differentiation in iPS cell cultures."
"Stem cells are of great interest for regenerative medicine and drug discovery efforts, and researchers must be able to effectively characterize the potency status of pluripotent stem cells to advance their progress toward clinical use," said Linda Meeh, Ph.D., Director of Marketing for Immunoassays and Multiplexing. "MILLIPLEX® map kits offer a quick and simple way to achieve this characterization, generating a comprehensive assessment of the overall quality of cell cultures."
For more information on the new kits, please visit http://www.millipore.com/bmia/flx4/bmia_stemcell.
Media Contact:
Leslie Eisenberg, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, 617-244-3872, [email protected]
About EMD Millipore
EMD Millipore is the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Germany and offers a broad range of innovative, performance products, services and business relationships that enable our customers' success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. Through dedicated collaboration on new scientific and engineering insights, and as one of the top three R&D investors in the Life Science Tools industry, EMD Millipore serves as a strategic partner to customers and helps advance the promise of life science.
Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 66 countries and 2012 revenues of €2.6 billion. EMD Millipore is known as Merck Millipore outside of the U.S. and Canada.