BrdU Antibody

5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) is a synthetic nucleoside analog of thymidine, which is commonly used in the study of cell proliferation. BrdU is incorporated into newly synthesized DNA of replicating cells, substituting for thymidine during the S phase of the cell cycle . This incorporation allows researchers to identify and quantify proliferating cells in various biological contexts.

BrdU has the following chemical properties:

• Chemical Formula: C₉H₁₁BrN₂O₅
• Molar Mass: 307.10 g/mol
• IUPAC Name: 5-Bromo-1-[(2R,4S,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione .

BrdU is widely used in various biological and medical research applications:

1. Cell Proliferation Studies: BrdU is used to label proliferating cells in vitro and in vivo. It is incorporated into the DNA of dividing cells, which can then be detected using specific antibodies .
2. Cancer Research: BrdU is used as a diagnostic tool and radiosensitizer in cancer research. It helps in identifying rapidly dividing cancer cells and assessing the effectiveness of cancer treatments .
3. Neuroscience: BrdU labeling is used to study neurogenesis, the process of generating new neurons in the brain .
4. Environmental Microbiology: BrdU can be used to identify microorganisms that respond to specific carbon substrates in environmental samples .

The detection of BrdU-labeled DNA is typically performed using immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence techniques. Anti-BrdU antibodies are used to bind to BrdU incorporated into DNA, allowing visualization and quantification of proliferating cells .

Mouse monoclonal antibodies against BrdU are commonly used in research. These antibodies are produced by hybridizing mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells from mice immunized with BrdU-conjugated proteins . The resulting hybridoma cells produce antibodies that specifically recognize BrdU incorporated into DNA.

Key Features of Mouse Anti-BrdU Antibodies:

• Clone: Common clones include B44 and IIB5 .
• Isotype: Typically IgG1 .
• Applications: Used in flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence .
• Storage: Antibodies are usually stored in phosphate-buffered saline with preservatives like sodium azide to maintain stability .