GFAP Antibody / Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein [clone GA-5] (V2129)

Description

GFAP antibody clone GA-5 is a monoclonal antibody that detects glial fibrillary acidic protein, a type III intermediate filament protein expressed in astrocytes of the central nervous system. GFAP is essential for maintaining astrocyte structure and function, contributing to cytoskeletal integrity and cellular interactions within neural tissue. NSJ Bioreagents supplies GFAP antibody clone GA-5 as a reliable tool for studying astrocytes in both normal physiology and neurological disease.

GFAP antibody clone GA-5 is most widely used in neuroscience research and neuropathology. In healthy brain tissue, it labels astrocytes throughout the gray and white matter, providing a clear map of astrocytic networks. In pathology, GFAP expression is upregulated in response to injury and disease, making clone GA-5 a key marker of astrogliosis. This reactive state is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Researchers also employ this antibody to study glial scars that form after traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Beyond disease studies, GFAP antibody clone GA-5 is essential in developmental neuroscience, where it is used to track astrocyte maturation and lineage commitment from neural progenitors. Because astrocytes regulate synaptic function, blood brain barrier maintenance, and neuronal support, detection of GFAP provides critical insights into how glial cells contribute to brain function and homeostasis.

GFAP antibody clone GA-5 is also widely used in tumor pathology. It provides reliable detection of astrocytic tumors such as astrocytomas and glioblastomas, where GFAP expression confirms glial origin. The antibody yields strong cytoplasmic staining in astrocytic cells across a range of tissue preparations, helping pathologists distinguish glial tumors from other neoplasms.

Validated for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting, GFAP antibody clone GA-5 has been extensively published and remains a gold standard reagent for astrocyte detection. Its reproducibility and clarity of staining have supported decades of neuroscience research. Alternate names include glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody, astrocyte marker antibody, and intermediate filament GFAP antibody.

Application Notes

The concentration stated for each application is a general starting point. Variations in protocols, secondaries and substrates may require the GFAP antibody to be titered up or down for optimal performance.

1. Staining of formalin-fixed tissues requires boiling tissue sections in pH 9 10mM Tris with 1mM EDTA for 10-20 min followed by cooling at RT for 20 minutes.
2. The prediluted format is supplied in a dropper bottle and is optimized for use in IHC. After epitope retrieval step (if required), drip mAb solution onto the tissue section and incubate at RT for 30 min.

Immunogen

GFAP isolated from pig spinal cord was used as the immunogen.

Storage

Store the GFAP antibody at 2-8oC.