Cytoskeletal Marker Antibody Sampler Kit

Background

The cytoskeleton consists of three different types of cystosolic fibers: microtubules, microfilaments (actin) and intermediate filaments. 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). Major types of intermediate filaments are distinguished in part by the tissue in which they are expressed, for example; cytokeratins (epithelial cells), vimentin (mesenchyme origin), and desmin (skeletal, visceral and certain vascular smooth muscle cells) (2). Keratin heterodimers composed of an acidic keratin (or type I keratin, keratins 9 to 23) and a basic keratin (or type II keratin, keratins 1 to 8) assemble to form intermediate filaments (3). Research studies have demonstrated that vimentin is present in sarcomas, but not carcinomas, and its expression is examined relative to other markers in order to distinguish between the two forms of neoplasm (4). Desmin is a myogenic marker expressed in early development that forms a network of filaments that extends across the myofibril and surrounds Z discs (5). α/β-tubulin heterodimers form the tubulin subunit that comprises the microtubule building block (6).


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