EMD Millipore Launches Industry’s First Multiplex Assays for Cellular Metabolism Research

EMD Millipore, the Life Science division of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, today launched three MILLIPLEX® MAP kits for cellular metabolism, the first commercially available multiplexed biomarker assays for this important research area. Compared to traditional biomarker detection techniques such as western blots, the new kits increase assay throughput and specificity.

Based on the Luminex® xMAP® assay technology platform and cellular metabolism antibodies from MitoSciences®, these first three MILLIPLEX® MAP kits enable fast, sensitive, simultaneous quantification of multiple cellular metabolism biomarkers involved in fatty acid oxidation and the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Each of the kits provides highly validated and characterized cellular metabolism immunoassay antibodies, all necessary reagents, and optimized protocols.

Studies of cellular metabolic pathways are central to understanding changes in the way that cells and tissues generate energy in response to disease states, drug treatments, dietary changes and genetic mutations. Mitochondrial pathways have been shown to play a role in numerous diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The complexity of these pathways, however, makes it difficult to draw conclusions based on the measurement of any individual analyte alone.

“There is a need for assay tools that enable a more holistic measurement of key mitochondrial proteins in disease research and during the drug development process in order to reduce late-stage attrition and safety liability due to toxicity,” notes Linda Meeh, Ph.D., Director of Marketing for Immunoassays and Multiplexing. “These new multiplex kits provide a high-throughput, more specific, more sensitive alternative to traditional methods that measure one analyte at a time.”

“The numerous interactions and complex matrices inherent in multiplex applications highlights the requirement for highly characterized and validated biological affinity reagents, describes James Murray, Ph.D., MitoSciences R&D Manager. MitoSciences’ monoclonal antibodies are thoroughly validated for absolute specificity and optimal sensitivity offering the highest level of fidelity for users of these applications.”

For more information, please visit the company article page.