Anti-Neurocan/NCAN Antibody Picoband®

Neurocan core protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NCAN gene. Neurocan is a member of the lectican / chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan protein families and consists of neurocan core protein and chondroitin sulfate. It is thought to be involved in the modulation of cell adhesion and migration. In the human subjects, it was found that NCAN genotype was strongly associated with manic symptoms but not with depressive symptoms. In the mice, the absence of functional Neurocan resulted in a variety of manic-like behaviors, which could be normalized by administering lithium.

A synthetic peptide corresponding to a sequence at the C-terminus of human Neurocan, which shares 90% amino acid (aa) sequence identity with both mouse and rat Neurocan.

May modulate neuronal adhesion and neurite growth during development by binding to neural cell adhesion molecules (NG-CAM and N-CAM) . Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan; binds to hyaluronic acid.

1. Miró X, Meier S, Dreisow ML, Frank J, Strohmaier J, Breuer R, Schmäl C, Albayram Ö, Pardo-Olmedilla MT, Mühleisen TW, Degenhardt FA, Mattheisen M, Reinhard I, Bilkei-Gorzo A, Cichon S, Seidenbecher C, Rietschel M, Nöthen MM, Zimmer A (September 2012) . Studies in humans and mice implicate neurocan in the etiology of mania. Am J Psychiatry. 169 (9) : 982–90. 2. Rauch U, Karthikeyan L, Maurel P, Margolis RU, Margolis RK (Oct 1992) . Cloning and primary structure of neurocan, a developmentally regulated, aggregating chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of brain. J Biol Chem. 267 (27) : 19536–47.

Store at -20°C for one year from date of receipt. After reconstitution, at 4°C for one month. It can also be aliquotted and stored frozen at -20°C for six months. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.