Description
The 16a11 monoclonal antibody specifically recognizes the Mouse CD159a alloantigen that is also known as NKG2A alloantigen (NKG2A[B6] or NKG2AB6) which is expressed on subsets of C57BL/6 mouse NK, NK-T, or activated CD8+ T cells. CD159a (NKG2AB6) is an ~40 kDa single-pass type II transmembrane glycoprotein that is encoded by Klrc1 (Killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily C member 1). This NKG2 receptor is comprised of an extracellular region with one C-type lectin domain followed by a transmembrane segment and a cytoplasmic tail with two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs). It is expressed on the cell surface as a heterodimer that is disulfide bonded to CD94, an invariant type II C-type lectin-like transmembrane glycoprotein. The 16a11 antibody does not recognize NKG2A[BALB], the NKG2A alloantigen expressed by BALB/c mouse leucocytes. This antibody neither crossreacts with other NKG2 family members, NKG2C (NKG2C[B6]) nor NKG2E (NKG2E[B6]) alloantigens, nor CD94. Heterodimeric complexes of CD94 with either NKG2A, C, or E recognize Qa-1, a non-classical self-MHC class I antigen, presenting the Qdm signal peptide. This recognition endows NK cells with the capacity to detect cells with abnormal MHC class I expression that may result from cellular transformation or viral infection. Ligand-bound CD159a (NKG2AB6):CD94 can play a role in the inhibition of NK cell-mediated target cell lysis. When costaining cells with the 20d5 monoclonal antibody that is specific for mouse NKG2A/C/E receptors, crossblocking was reportedly minimized by first incubating cells with the 16a11 antibody and followed by the 20d5 antibody.
BD® CompBeads can be used as surrogates to assess fluorescence spillover (compensation). When fluorochrome conjugated antibodies are bound to BD® CompBeads, they have spectral properties very similar to cells. However, for some fluorochromes there can be small differences in spectral emissions compared to cells, resulting in spillover values that differ when compared to biological controls. It is strongly recommended that when using a reagent for the first time, users compare the spillover on cells and BD® CompBeads to ensure that BD® CompBeads are appropriate for your specific cellular application.
Store undiluted at 4°C and protected from prolonged exposure to light. Do not freeze. The monoclonal antibody was purified from tissue culture supernatant or ascites by affinity chromatography. The antibody was conjugated to the dye under optimum conditions that minimize unconjugated dye and antibody.
