Vala Sciences products

Background: Microglia are central nervous system innate immune support cells that function remarkably like peripheral macrophages [1]. Microglia continually monitor neuronal function through direct cell-cell contacts and exert neuroprotective effects in response to stress [2]. By maintaining brain homeostasis, clearing cellular debris [3], pruning synapses [4], and eliminating protein aggregates [5], microglia play key roles in neurodevelopment [6], Alzheimer’s Disease [7], Parkinson’s Disease [8], ALS [9], traumatic brain injury [10], and many other central nervous system conditions

Lipid droplets are the primary fat storage organelles of fat cells (adipocytes). Lipid droplet size, and number are altered by anti-diabetic and anti-obesity drugs and these effects can be quantified utilizing Vala Science Inc’s Lipid Droplet Kit. The kit can be utilized to quantify lipid droplets in human primary adipocytes, murine 3T3L1 adipocytes, as well as primary or immortalized hepatocytes.

Background:  Lipid droplets are coated with a layer of proteins that regulate their growth and metabolism.  The major lipid droplet-associated protein in adipocytes is perilipin [1]. Mice in which the endogenous gene for perilipin is knocked out have a lean phenotype due to reduced accumulation of fat [2,3], suggesting that perilipin may have a “gate-keeper” function under basal conditions to protect the triglycerides from metabolism by lipases. Amount:  100 µL.

Background:  Lipid droplets are coated with a layer of proteins that regulate their growth and metabolism.  The major lipid droplet-associated protein in adipocytes is perilipin [1].  Mice in which the endogenous gene for perilipin is knocked out have a lean phenotype due to reduced accumulation of fat [2,3], suggesting that perilipin may have a “gate-keeper” function under basal conditions to protect the triglycerides from metabolism by lipases.  Upon activation of lipolytic pathways, perilipin is subject to phosphorylation at serine 497 and 522 by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, and phosphorylation of perilipin helps to recruit hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) to the lipid droplets. Amount:  100 µL.

Background:  Lipid droplets are coated with a layer of proteins that regulate their growth and metabolism.  The major lipid droplet-associated protein in adipocytes is perilipin [1].  Mice in which the endogenous gene for perilipin is knocked out have a lean phenotype due to reduced accumulation of fat [2,3], suggesting that perilipin may have a “gate-keeper” function under basal conditions to protect the triglycerides from metabolism by lipases.  Upon activation of lipolytic pathways, perilipin is subject to phosphorylation at serine 497 and 522 by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase, and phosphorylation of perilipin helps to recruit hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) to the lipid droplets. Amount:  100 µL.

This cell extract serves as a control for Western blotting procedures (e.g., for use with Anti-p-Perilipin 1-serine 522, Cat. 4856); the extract was derived from cells that were not exposed to lipolysis-activating agents.

KIC provides high throughput in situ “optical cytometry”. Vala’s flagship kinetic image cytometer (IC200-KIC®) with high-throughput automation and analytics is unmatched in visualizing and measuring subtle disease effects in individual cells.

Vala’s Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM™) matches the resolution of best-in-class confocal microscopes at the fast speed of lower-resolution drug screening tools.  SIM offers the smallest footprint, with the best ease-of-use, and at half the price of competing tools.