Cell Signaling Technology

Product Pathways - Adhesion

α-N-Catenin Antibody #2131

Applications Reactivity Sensitivity MW (kDa) Source
W IP IF-IC F H M R Endogenous 102 Rabbit

Applications Key:  W=Western Blotting  IP=Immunoprecipitation  IF-IC=Immunofluorescence (Immunocytochemistry)  F=Flow Cytometry
Reactivity Key:  H=Human  M=Mouse  R=Rat
Species cross-reactivity is determined by western blot. Species enclosed in parentheses are predicted to react based on 100% sequence homology.

Protocols

Specificity / Sensitivity

α-N-Catenin Antibody detects endogenous levels of α-N-catenin protein. The antibody does not cross-react with other α-catenin family members.

Source / Purification

Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals with a synthetic peptide corresponding the the carboxy-terminus of human α-N-catenin. Antibodies are purified using protein A and peptide affinity chromatography.

Western Blotting

Western Blotting

Western blot analysis of extracts from SHSY5Y and PC12 cells, using α-N-Catenin Antibody.

Flow Cytometry

Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometric analysis of PC-12 cells, using α-N-Catenin antibody (blue) compared to a nonspecific negative control antibody (red).

IF-IC

IF-IC

Confocal immunofluorescent analysis of SH-SY5Y cells using α-N-Catenin Antibody (green). Actin filaments have been labeled with DY-554 phalloidin (red). Blue pseudocolor = DRAQ5®#4084 (fluorescent DNA dye).


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. 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).Recent evidence suggests 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).

  1. Kobielak, A. and Fuchs, E. (2004) Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 5, 614-625.
  2. Yamada, S. et al. (2005) Cell 123, 889-901.
  3. Drees, F. et al. (2005) Cell 123, 903-915.
  4. Hwang, S.G. et al. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 12758-12765.

Application References

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Companion Products

For Research Use Only. Not For Use In Diagnostic Procedures.

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