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Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, is pleased to announce its G:BOX iChemi XT imaging system is being used by researchers at a centre of excellence in the University of Portsmouth to help determine the molecular basis of life threatening disease, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. 

Scientists in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Portsmouth are using a G:BOX iChemi XT system to accurately and quantitatively analyse Western blots of P2 receptors and other proteins associated with the dystrophin protein complex. The blots are detected with either chemiluminescent ECL or different coloured fluorescent Dyomics dyes and the information gathered from them is used to determine which proteins have an impact on the pathology of muscular dystrophy, and could lead to the development of novel therapies for this fatal muscle wasting disease. 

Professor Darek Gorecki, Director of Research in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences stated: "We have identified P2 proteins affected by the absence of dystrophin and have produced knock-out mice to determine the effects that absence of P2 has in muscle cells. Since there is sometimes very small difference between up- and down-regulated proteins, we need an imaging system which can accurately detect low levels of protein and these very slight changes in expression levels."  

Professor Gorecki continued: "After looking at other imagers, we chose a G:BOX iChemi XT because it is less expensive than many systems, yet is versatile enough to capture low levels of light from blots using ECL imaging, as well as image and overlay different coloured fluorescent Westerns; giving us greater confidence in our qualitative data."  

Laura Sullivan, Syngene's Divisional Manager concluded: "We are delighted to hear scientists at the University of Portsmouth are obtaining great results using very different types of Westerns. Their work demonstrates that with a G:BOX iChemi XT, advanced imaging performance is now an affordable option for many critical academic studies."

For further information please visit www.syngene.com