Released on = May 8, 2007, 10:49 am

Press Release Author = AnaSpec Inc.

Industry = Biotech

Press Release Summary = Due to challenges in synthesis due to their structure,
beta-amyloid peptides with sequences 1-44 to 1-48 have not been commercially
available until now. AnaSpec, a leading provider of integrated proteomics
solutions, has introduced the industry's first commercially available beta-amyloid
peptides for sequences 1-44, 1-45, 1-46, 1-47, 1-48 and 1-49.

Press Release Body = May 2, 2007 - San Jose, CA

Due to challenges in synthesis due to their structure, beta-amyloid peptides with
sequences 1-44 to 1-48 have not been commercially available until now. AnaSpec, a
leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions, has introduced the industry's
first commercially available beta-amyloid peptides for sequences 1-44, 1-45, 1-46,
1-47, 1-48 and 1-49.

Amyloid Precursor Protein, APP, is predominantly processed by -Secretase,
producing a 83-amino acid C-terminal fragment, C83; while a small amount is
processed by -Secretase, producing a 99-amino acid C-terminal fragment, C99.
Subsequent cleavages of C83 and C99 by -Secretase produce a 3-kD (p3)
protein in the former and a 4-kD (beta-amyloid) protein in the latter and a CT57-59
in both fragments.1 The 4-Kd consists of beta-amyloids which are 39 to 42 amino
acids in length, with beta-amyloid 1-42 being the major component of amyloid plaques
which accumulate in neurons of Alzheimer's diseased brains.2,3 Novel cleavage sites
( and ) downstream of the -cleavage site have recently been
reported,4,5 which release longer beta-amyloid peptides (1-43, 1-45, 1-46 and 1-48).


These longer beta-amyloid peptides have been notoriously difficult to make, due to a
C-terminus sequence composed primarily of hydrophobic amino acids. The successful
synthesis and commercialization of these longer beta-amyloid peptides represents a
significant achievement on the part of AnaSpec. AnaSpec president, Dr. Anita Hong,
noted, "Drawing on our many years of peptide synthesis experience, AnaSpec is
committed to supporting the research efforts of our customers with the most
innovative tools we can develop. With the successful commercialization of these
longer beta-amyloid peptides, we are pleased to offer an even broader selection of
amyloid-related products for our customers."

Company Info

AnaSpec, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated proteomics solutions to
pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research institutions throughout the world.
With a vision for innovation through synergy, AnaSpec focuses on three core
technologies: peptides, detection reagents (dyes, assay kits, & antibodies), and
combinatorial chemistry. Established in 1993, AnaSpec\'s ISO9001:2000 certified
headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in San Jose, CA.

1. Selkoe DJ. Nature 399: A23 (1999).
2. Suzuki, N., et al. Science 264, 1336 (1994).
3. Iwatsubo, T. et al. Neuron 13, 45 (1994).
4. Qi-Takahara, Y. et al. J. Neurosci. 25, 436 (2005).






Web Site = http://www.anaspec.com

Contact Details = 1-408-452-5055
ping@anaspec.com