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We've put together the most commonly used markers for radial glia to help you quickly identify the suitable marker for your cells.
Find your marker:
Vimentin | PAX6 | HES1 and HES5 | Astrocytic markers: GFAP, GLAST, and BLBP | Adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules: TN-C and N-cadherin | Nestin | SOX2
During neurogenesis, neuroepithelial (NE) cells transform into radial glia. Epithelial features, such as tight junctions, are downregulated in favor of adherens junctions. Glial hallmarks, including astrocyte markers and morphological features such as glycogen granules, begin to emerge.
Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein, whose expression is upregulated during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of NE cells to radial glia and persists until astrocyte development.
We recommend Recombinant Anti-Vimentin antibody [EPR3776] - Cytoskeleton Marker (ab92547).
Recommended vimentin inhibitor and antiangiogenic agent: Withaferin A (ab120644)
Image (left): Rhesus monkey brain tissue sections stained with anti-vimentin (ab92547).
Paired box gene 6 or paired box protein (PAX6) is a transcription factor that promotes neurogenesis.
We recommend Anti-PAX6 antibody (ab5790).
Image (left): Mouse embryonic (E12.5) brain sections stained with anti-PAX6 (ab5790).
These are transcription factors regulating the maintenance of radial glia.
We recommend Anti-HES5 antibody (ab25374).
Image (left): Mouse brain tissue sections stained with anti-HES5 (red) (ab25374).
These astrocytic markers emerge as neuroepithelial cells become radial glia.
We recommend Anti-BLBP antibody (ab32423).
Recommended downregulator of GFAP expression: Methylprednisolone (ab142007)
Image (left): Rat embryonic (E16) spinal cord sections stained with anti-BLBP (ab32423).
Upregulation of adhesion and extracellular matrix proteins accompanies the transformation of NE cells into radial glia.
We recommend Recombinant Anti-N Cadherin antibody [EPR1791-4] (ab76011).
Image (left): Mouse embryonic coronal cortical section stained with anti-N -cadherin (red) (ab76011).
Browse all N-cadherin products
Nestin is an intermediate filament protein in NE cells and radial glia, whose expression persists until astrocyte development.
We recommend Anti-Nestin antibody [Rat-401] - Neural Stem Cell Marker (ab6142).
Image (left): Rat adult brain tissue sections stained with anti-nestin (ab6142).
SOX2 is a transcription factor and the earliest marker of the neural plate. It is expressed in proliferating cells and those acquiring glial fates but downregulated in post-mitotic neurons.
We recommend Anti-SOX2 antibody (ab97959).
Image (left): Chicken embryonic (E7) brain tissue sections stained with anti-SOX2 (ab97959).