Antibodies to Catenins

Introduction: Catenins are cytoplasmic linker proteins of cell-cell junctions

This protein family include the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-Catenins. In adherens junctions, alpha-Catenin links the Cadherin/beta-Catenin complex to the actin-based cytoskeleton via a direct association between alpha Actinin and alpha Catenin. Beta-Catenin was originally identified as a binding protein of Cadherin. Beta-Catenins associate with the cytoplasmic domain of the adhesion molecules N- and E-Cadherin and are essential for Cadherin function in cell-cell adhesion. It plays a dual role as structural component of cell-cell junctions and as regulatory protein in the nucleus. Beta-Catenin can transduce changes in cell adhesion and junction formation to control transmembrane signaling and gene expression. Delta Catenin is present in adhering type junctions in the nervous system, primarily expressed in the brain and is described to play a role in familial Alzheimer’s disease. Gamma Catenin (Plakoglobin) is found in desmosomes and adherens junctions (see Newsletter Summer 2007 for more detailed information).

Antibody Tools for the Detection of Catenins alpha, beta, gamma and delta

Table 1 shows Acris wide range of antibodies for detection of Catenin family members. Most of these anti-bodies are suitable for Western blots and immunohistochemistry. Please note, that some products do include a positive control for use in Western blots and that we also offer antibodies for detection of phosphorylated beta-Catenin.

Fig.1: Phosphospecificity. Whole cell extracts of control (1) or pervanadate treated (2) SW480 tumor cells were applied to SDS-PAGE and transferred to a PVDF. The immunoblot was probed with beta-Catenin antibody (phosphoTyr86) cat. no. AM00015PU-N.

Literature:

Conacci-Sorrell, M; Zhurinsky, J; Ben-Zeèv, A (2002) The cadherin-catenin adhesion system in signaling and cancer. J. Clin. Invest. 109:987-991.

Suzuki SC, Takeichi M. Cadherins in neuronal morphogenesis and function. Dev Growth Differ, 2008 Jun; 50 Suppl 1: 119-130.

Available Antibody Panel to Catenin protein family