SILAC Media

Stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture or SILAC is a widely used technique in MS-based proteomics. In SILAC experiments, selected amino acids in the culture medium are replaced with non-radioactive, stable isotopes. These heavy isotopes are incorporated into newly synthesized proteins. The result is "heavy" proteins which can be distinguished from "light" or non-labeled proteins by mass spectrometry. SILAC thus provides an accurate and elegant means of performing quantitative studies in proteomics.

To help researchers perform SILAC experiments, Athena's manufacturing team has been providing custom made medium formulated to the specialized needs of each researcher. As SILAC experiments have become more routine, several culture media formulations are more frequently used. Athena is pleased to announce that these commonly used culture media formulations are now available as stock items. This lowers the cost of purchasing SILAC medium and helps to reduce the cost of performing these labeling experiments.

Bioline™ Chromatography Systems

The Bioline™ Chromatography Systems for protein separations use sophisticated instruments and and software to achieve high quality separations. The Bioline™ Start System was designed for the demanding laboratory user, particularly those performing routine analyses and bench-scale purifications of proteins. With the modular design and full- featured ChromGate® software, the system offers outstanding performance and ease-of-use at an amazingly affordable price. The Bioline™ Start System employs bio-compatable materials and components. The system is compatable with all commonly used buffer systems as well as common organic solvents used in protein analyses.

Athena Signs a Distribution Agreement with Knauer GmbH.

December 1, 2011: The Athena Enzyme Systems Group™ of AthenaES® announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Knauer GmbH. The agreement gives Athena the exclusive rights to distribute Knauer's Bioline™ Bio-Chromatography Systems and the Biofox™ Chromatography Resins and Columns in the United States.

The Bioline™ Chromatography Systems were developed to provide researchers with a highly flexible, scalable system to improve the purification of proteins. Building on Knauer's more than 50 years of experience with high-performance liquid chromatography instruments, the Bioline™ instruments are precision engineered using performance-driven design criteria aimed at protein separations. The result is a modular instrumentation system that allows researchers to custom design the optimum system for their needs. This modular design concept provides for a highly flexible and readily scalable chromatography platform that begins with an affordable starter system which can be built upon by adding individual components as needed. Thus, a Bioline™ Chromatography System can be assembled to handle protein separations from analytical to process scale. To learn more go to www.athenaes.com/Bioline-Chromatography.

Athena Signs a Distribution Agreement with Scientific Industries.

August 15, 2010: Athena Environmental Sciences, Inc. announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with Scientific Industries, Inc. The agreement gives Athena the rights to sell the complete portfolio of Genie® Products manufactured by Scientific Industries. Since its foundation in 1954, Scientific Industries has provided rugged, reliable laboratory instruments for vortexing and mixing. The most notable device is the world-famous Vortex-Genie® mixer, which over the years, has become an essential piece of equipment for any type of laboratory. With a vast array of accessories, the Vortex-Genie® permits convenient mixing in any type of container. Expanding on its expertise in mixing, Scientific Industries has designed and built an array of versatile instruments for vortexing and mixing which accommodate containers of every shape from microplates to liter flasks with precise temperature control, if desired. All of the Genie® products are proudly made in the USA.

Athena Receives a Phase I SBIR Award from the National Science Foundation.

August 1, 2009: Athena Environmental Sciences, Inc. announced today that the Athena Enzyme Systems business unit was awarded a $100,000 Phase I SBIR grant from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the project is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of developing an integrated protein production system for the expression, production and purification of recombinant proteins. Based on the company's proprietary YebF Export Expression System, the envisioned instrument would permit hands-free production of recombinant proteins.