Monoclonal Antibodies for Laminin-5 and Hemidesmosomes (21015)
This invention describes a number of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) specific to the different subunits of laminin-5 and hemidesmosomes (HDs). These monoclonal antibodies may be used to study epithelial cell motility, cell proliferation, cytoskeleton formation, cell adhesion, and the process of wound healing. Experimental assays such as Western blotting, immunofluorescence microscopy, immunocytochemistry and in vitro motility assays have demonstrated the utility of these mAbs.MAb Specificity 12C4 corboxyterminus of human a3 laminin subunit. This epitope is lost during proteolytic cleavage of a3 3D5 human laminin y2 10B5 human and rat a3 laminin subunit 10C5 BP230 1804b BP180 5C5 rat laminin-5
SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND: Epithelial cells are separated from connective tissue by a basement membrane that is composed of a variety of extracellular matrix molecules (ECM) including proteoglycans, collagen, and laminin isoforms. Together, these proteins create a framework that is essential for maintaining tissue integrity. In addition, ECM proteins also play a diverse set of biological functions that regulate adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression of adjacent cells. Laminin, of which there are at least 10 isoforms, is a major component of basement membranes, and has been shown to mediate cell-matrix attachment, gene expression, tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, and branching morphogenesis. Laminin-5, a heterotrimer consisting of a3, b3, and g2 subunits, is abundant in transitional epithelium, stratified squamous epithelia, lung mucosa, and other epithelial glands. It is synthesized initially as a 460 kD molecule that undergoes specific proteolytic cleavage to a smaller form after being secreted into the ECM. The size reduction is a result of processing the a3 and g2 subunits from 190-200 to 160 kD and from 155 to 105 kD, respectively. Laminin-5 is also an integral part of the HD, a specialized cell-ECM contact that mediates the attachment of the epithelial cell basal surface to the ECM. HDs are formed by the association of a6b4 integrin with laminin-5, and possesses three major structural proteins, including the bullous pemphigoid antigens I (BP230 or BPAG1) and II (BP180 or BPAGII) and plectin.
Type of Offer: Licensing
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