BPS Bioscience, Inc. Announces 4 New Assay Kits for Histone Acetyltransferase Research

SAN DIEGO - Sept. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- BPS Bioscience, Inc. (“BPS”) announced the addition of 4 new assay kits for identifying small molecule inhibitors of histone acetyltransferases (HATs). These unique assays will also be available for custom services along with BPS Bioscience’s comprehensive panel of Histone Deacetylases (HDACs), Bromodomains (BRDs), Histone Methyltransferases (HMTs), Histone Demethylases (HDM), and other epigenetic targets.

Acetylation of lysine residues is a dynamic process that directs gene transcription and chromatin remodeling. HAT enzymes transfer an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to the ε-amino group of a target lysine side chain within a histone tail.  Acetylation of histone tails by HATs is associated with transcriptional activation and an open chromatin structure (euchromatin).  HATs also can acetylate transcription factors, nuclear receptors, and other non-histone proteins to facilitate gene expression.

As key regulatory enzymes of gene transcription, HATs are essential for cell maintenance and survival.   Histone acetylation is a fully reversible process, with HAT enzymes acting as “writers”, laying down the acetyl marks, BRD “readers” that recruit other regulatory enzymes to the site, and  HDAC “erasers”, which remove the acetyl group to promote gene silencing.  Not surprisingly, HATs have emerged, alongside   HDACs, BRDs, and other epigenetic enzymes as important drug targets for a number of human diseases, including cancers, diabetes, neurological disorders, and inflammatory diseases.

The four new kits are designed for screening inhibitors of the p300 (KAT3B) and GCN5 (KAT2A) classes of HATs.  These assay kits are suitable for high throughput screening, and are available with either chemiluminescent or AlphaLISA^® detection.   “The HAT kits are the latest tools from BPS to support epigenetic drug discovery.” said Henry Zhu, President and CEO of BPS Bioscience. "These highly specific assay kits are up to 20-fold more sensitive than previous flurogenic HAT assays.  BPS expects to offer additional acetylation kits and services in the coming months, and we will continue to develop new assays, services, and other specialized solutions to help researchers drive lead compounds through their development pipelines.”

BPS offers the largest commercial offering of enzymes, assay kits and services for acetylation, methylation, and other epigenetic research.  BPS was the first company to offer a complete suite of HDAC and Sirtuin (SIRT) enzymes, as well as offering the largest portfolio of BRD proteins and assay kits.  In addition to unique acetyltransferase kits and enzymes, BPS also offers acetylation and methylation screening and profiling services, including HATs, HDACs, HMTs, HDTs, SIRTs, BRDs, and cellular HDAC assays.

To learn more about BPS Bioscience’s acetyltransferase products, please visit http://www.bpsbioscience.com/images/Flyers/HDAC_flyer.pdf or http://bpsbioscience.com/acetyltransferase and to learn about our screening/profiling services, please visit http://bpsbioscience.com/biological-services.

AlphaLISA^®  is a trademark of PerkinElmer.

About BPS Bioscience

BPS Bioscience, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of Acetyltransferases, Bromodomains, HDACs, Histone Demethylases, Methyltransferases, Kinases, Phosphatases, Phosphodiesterases, Poly ADP Ribose Polymerases (PARPs), Proteases, and Ubiquitin Enzymes.  BPS offers one of the largest selections of recombinant enzymes and assay kits for drug discovery and continues to expand its portfolio of innovative drug discovery products.  BPS also provides custom protein expression, biochemical and cell-based assays, and compound screening and profiling services.  Headquartered in San Diego, California, BPS has provided products and services to pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes in over 45 countries worldwide.  By being at the forefront of technology development, BPS focuses on providing quality life science products and services in a timely manner that will help our customers to accelerate drug discovery and development for treatment of human diseases.  Visit BPS’s website for more information: http://www.bpsbioscience.com.