Alu DNA
Alu repetitive elements are unique to primates and are interspersed within the human genome with an average spacing of 4 kb. Alu sequences have influences on RNA polymerase II-mediated gene expression and are present in RNA polymerase III-generated transcripts. The human Alu sequence originates from 7SL RNA and contains both "conserved" and "variable" regions. The conserved regions consist of a 25-bp region (nt 23-47) and a 16-bp region (nt 245-260). Since BioGenex Alu probe will detect Alu repeat sequences found in all primate chromosomes, it serves as an excellent positive control probe for the detection of primate DNA sequences by In Situ Hybridization.

Beta-Actin mRNA
Actins are highly conserved proteins that participate in cell motility, structure and integrity. Beta-actin, one of six known actin isoforms, is a non-muscle cytoskeletal isoform. Beta-actin has been implicated as an important mediator of cell growth, signaling, migration and remodeling. In normal cells, betaactin mRNA is localized to cell protrusions where actin is actively polymerized, and this localization is correlated with the efficiency of cell motility. Beta-actin mRNA is often used as an internal standard for In Situ Hybridization and Northern blotting procedures. The BioGenex Beta-Actin mRNA Probe reacts with beta-actin mRNA species in human, mouse, and rat tissues.

Epstein-Barr Virus Early RNA (EBER)
The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) viral cycle consists of both latent and replicative stages. While all stages may be found simultaneously in a tissue, latent infections are often limited to lymphoid cells and replicative phases to epithelial cells. In the latent state, only small parts of the viral genome are transcribed. After reactivation of the viral genome and during a productive cycle, more than 50 RNAs are expressed and over 30 viral-specified polypeptides are detected. The BioGenex EBER probe detects the Epstein-Barr early RNA transcript.

Kappa mRNA
The clonal nature of any immunoglobulin-producing cell population can be determined by its light chain structure. The majority of B-cell lineage cancers express a single light chain class. The results may be difficult to interpret using immunohistochemistry because of high background from circulating immunoglobulins. In contrast, In Situ Hybridization produces relatively clean, easy-to-interpret results. The BioGenex Kappa probe reacts with human, mouse, and rat tissues.

Lambda mRNA
A given immunoglobulin molecule contains two light chains, both of which are either kappa or lambda. As a result, the clonal nature of any immunoglobulin-producing cell population can be determined by its light chain structure. While immunohistochemistry is often used to assess light chain restriction, the results may be difficult to interpret because of high background from circulating immunoglobulins. In contrast, In Situ Hybridization procedures utilizing probes to kappa and lambda light chain mRNAs produce relatively clean, easy-to-interpret results. The BioGenex Lambda probe reacts with human, mouse, and rat tissues.

Cyclin D1
The cyclin D1 gene product is involved both in normal regulation of the cell cycle and in neoplasia. In the G1 phase of the cell cycle, the cyclin D1 protein, together with a cyclin dependent kinase, causes the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma gene product, which induces transition to the S phase by releasing transcription factors involved in the initiation of DNA replication. Amplification of the cyclin D1 gene and over-expression of the cyclin D1 protein subvert the normal controls on the cell cycle.

Retinoblastoma
The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene, Rb, encodes a protein of 110 KD that plays an important role in cell growth regulation.