Product News: Easy-to-Use Quantitative Gamma-H2AX Assay

AMSBIO announces the first commercially available gamma H2AX Pharmacodynamic assay kit for the study of double strand DNA breaks through the detection of gamma H2AX - a phosphorylated histone historically proven as a highly specific and sensitive molecular marker for double strand DNA damage detection. This new assay has been developed for anti-cancer drug screening, basic research and upcoming clinical trials providing one of many needed tools to support hypothesis-driven drug design strategies.

Documented variability in DNA double-strand break repair among different segments of the human population may contribute to patient specific therapeutic toxicities, enabling a more personalized approach to treatment. A quantitative determination of gamma-H2AX levels in response to treatment would help to establish patient specific dose regimens minimizing the toxicity, while maximizing the efficacy of therapy.

Until now, induction of gamma-H2AX has been determined by either Western Blots or scoring foci with Immunofluorescence. While Western Blots provide information regarding the gamma-H2AX protein, they are difficult to quantitate and provide mostly qualitative data. Although image analysis software enables foci quantification, actual gamma-H2AX levels cannot be determined by these techniques, as there is no direct relationship between foci and gamma-H2AX levels after damage.

AMSBIO's new 96-well non-radioactive ELISA assay documents differences in gamma H2AX levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cultured cells, and tissue biopsies and is available as a complete reagent kit with chemiluminescent detection.

Alexei Degretev from Tufts University (Medford, USA), one of the initial beta testers of the product, commented "This new gamma H2AX pharmacodynamic assay is a very useful tool for providing precise quantitation of gamma H2AX formation. The assay is easy to perform, fast, and displays good linear range and excellent reproducibility between replicate samples".