Description
Product Usage Information
Western Blotting: 1:1000
Immunoprecipitation: 1:100
Immunofluorescence (Immunocytochemistry): 1:800
Flow Cytometry (Fixed/Permeabilized): 1:50
Storage
Supplied in 10 mM sodium HEPES (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 100 µg/ml BSA and 50% glycerol. Store at -20°C. Do not aliquot the antibody.
Protocol
Available protocols: Western Blotting, Immunoprecipitation, Immunofluorescence (Immunocytochemistry), Flow Cytometry (Fixed/Permeabilized)
Specificity / Sensitivity
alpha-N-Catenin Antibody detects endogenous levels of α-N-catenin protein. This antibody does not cross-react with other α-catenin family members.
Species Reactivity: Human, Mouse, Rat
Source / Purification
Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals with a synthetic peptide corresponding the carboxy-terminus of human α-N-catenin. Antibodies are purified using protein A and peptide affinity chromatography.
Background
Adherens junctions are dynamic structures that form cell-cell contacts and are important in development, differentiation, tissue integrity, morphology and cell polarity. They are composed of the transmembrane proteins, cadherins, which bind cadherins on adjacent cells in a calcium-dependent manner. On the cytoplasmic side of adherens junctions, the classic model states that cadherins are linked to the cytoskeleton through β- and α-catenin. α-E-catenin is ubiquitously expressed, α-N-catenin is expressed in neuronal tissue, and α-T-catenin is primarily expressed in heart tissue. Research studies have demonstrated that loss of E-cadherin and α-E-catenin occurs during the progression of several human cancers, indicating that the breakdown of adherens junctions is important in cancer progression (reviewed in 1). Research studies also suggest that, rather than acting as a static link between cadherins and actin, α-catenin regulates actin dynamics directly, possibly by competing with the actin nucleating arp2/3 complex (2,3). α-catenin also plays a role in regulating β-catenin-dependent transcriptional activity, affecting differentiation and response to Wnt signaling. α-catenin binds to β-catenin in the nucleus, preventing it from regulating transcription, and levels of both proteins appear to be regulated via proteasome-dependent degradation (4).
Alternate Names
Alpha N-catenin; Alpha-catenin-related protein; alpha-N-catenin; cadherin-associated protein, related; cancer/testis antigen 114; CAP-R; CAPR; catenin (cadherin-associated protein), alpha 2; catenin alpha 2; Catenin alpha-2; CDCBM9; CT 114; CT114; CTNA2; CTNNA2; CTNR; DKFZp686H02198
