Cell Signaling Technology

Product Pathways - Adhesion

α-E-Catenin Antibody #3236

Applications Reactivity MW (kDa) Source
W IF-IC H M R 100 Rabbit

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

Specificity / Sensitivity

α-E-Catenin Antibody detects endogenous levels of alpha-E catenin protein. The antibody may cross-react with neuronal α-N-catenin. In some cell lysates, the antibody may cross-react with a 50 kDa band of unknown origin.

Source / Purification

Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing rabbits with a synthetic peptide (KLH-coupled) corresponding to the carboxy-terminal sequence of human α-E-Catenin. Antibodies are purified using protein A and peptide affinity chromatography.

Western Blotting

Western Blotting

Western blot analysis of extracts from various cell lines, using α-E-Catenin Antibody.

IF-IC

IF-IC

Confocal immunofluorescent analysis of A431 cells labeled with α-E-Catenin Antibody (green, left) compared to an isotype control (right). Red = Actin filaments. Blue pseudocolor = TO-PRO-3 (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.

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