Species predicted to react based on 100% sequence homology:D. melanogaster, Xenopus, Bovine, Pig
Specificity / Sensitivity
Pan-Actin Antibody detects endogenous levels of total actin (all isoforms). The antibody also detects the 30 kDa actin fragment cleaved at glutamate 107.
Source / Purification
Polyclonal antibodies are produced by immunizing animals with a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues surrounding Asp244 of human beta-actin. Antibodies are purified by protein A and peptide affinity chromatography.
Background
Actin, a ubiquitous eukaryotic protein, is the major component of the cytoskeleton. At least six isoforms are known in mammals. Nonmuscle β- and γ-actin, also known as cytoplasmic actin, are predominantly expressed in nonmuscle cells, controlling cell structure and motility (1). α-cardiac and α-skeletal actin are expressed in striated cardiac and skeletal muscles, respectively; two smooth muscle actins, α- and γ-actin, are found primarily in vascular smooth muscle and enteric smooth muscle, respectively. These actin isoforms regulate the contractile potential of muscle cells (1). Actin exists mainly as a fibrous polymer, F-actin. In response to cytoskeletal reorganizing signals during processes such as cytokinesis, endocytosis, or stress, cofilin promotes fragmentation and depolymerization of F-actin, resulting in an increase in the monomeric globular form, G-actin (2). The Arp2/3 complex stabilizes F-actin fragments and promotes formation of new actin filaments (2). It has been reported that actin is hyperphosphorylated in primary breast tumors (3). Cleavage of actin under apoptotic conditions has been observed in vitro and in cardiac and skeletal muscle (4-6).