Tryptophan Hydroxylase Antibody

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of serotonin and melatonin. In mammals, serotonin biosynthesis occurs predominantly in neurons which originate in the raphe nuclei of the brain, and melatonin synthesis takes place within the pineal gland. Although TPH catalyzes the same reaction within the raphe nuclei and the pineal gland, TPH activity is rate-limiting for serotonin but not melatonin biosynthesis..

For long term storage –80˚ C is recommended, but shorter term storage at –20˚ C is also acceptable as aliquots may be taken without freeze/thawing due to the presence of 50% glycerol. Stable for one year.

Tryptophan Hydroxylase antibody can be used for specific immunolabeling of the ~55k TPH protein in Western blots of human dorsal Raphe nucleus. Applications include Dot Blots (DB) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western Blots (WB) . The antibody has been used successfully with rat and human brain tissues in blot immunolabeling and immunohistochemical procedures. Based upon the relatively high degree of homology of tryptophan hydroxylase, the antibodies should cross-react with other mammalian species. When internally tested under ideal conditions the working dilutions were 1:1000 for IHC, DB and WB.

Haycock, J.W., Kumer, S.C., Lewis, D.A., Vrana, K.E., and Stockmeier, C.A, "A monoclonal antibody to tryptophan hydroxylase: applications and identification of the epitope, " J. Neurosci. Meth. 114 (2002), 205 - 212.