Cytokeratin 19 Monoclonal Antibody (BA17), eBioscience™, Invitrogen™

Description

Description: This BA17 monoclonal antibody reacts with human cytokeratin 19 (CK19), a 44-kDa type I (acidic) intermediate filament protein that lacks the non-alpha-helical tail domain present in other keratins. Cytokeratins form the intracellular cytoskeletal network that maintains the integrity and stability of cells and tissues. Cytokeratin 19 is expressed in a wide variety of simple and stratified epithelial tissue. Moreover, cytokeratin 19 expression can be induced by vitamin A, SV40 transformation, and cancer. A soluble form of cytokeratin 19 generated by caspase 3 cleavage has also been found to be secreted by cancer cells, thus possibly indicating tumor metastasis. Cytokeratin 19 often exists as a heterodimer with cytokeratin 7, a type II keratin. Applications Reported: This BA17 antibody has been reported for use in immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections and immunocytochemistry. Applications Tested: This BA17 antibody has been tested by immunocytochemistry of fixed and permeabilized MCF-7 cells. This can be used at less than or equal to 10 μg/mL. It is recommended that the antibody be titrated for optimal performance in the assay of interest. Purity: Greater than 90%, as determined by SDS-PAGE. Aggregation: Less than 10%, as determined by HPLC. Filtration: 0.2 μm post-manufacturing filtered.

Cytokeratin 19 is part of a subfamily of intermediate filament proteins and are characterized by a remarkable biochemical diversity, represented in human epithelial tissues by at least 20 different polypeptides. Cytokeratins range in molecular weight from 40-68 kDa and isoelectric pH between 4.9 - 7.8. The individual human cytokeratins are numbered 1 to 20. The various epithelia in the human body usually express cytokeratins which are not only characteristic of the type of epithelium, but also related to the degree of maturation or differentiation within an epithelium. Cytokeratin subtype expression patterns are used to an increasing extent in the distinction of different types of epithelial malignancies. The cytokeratin antibodies are not only of assistance in the differential diagnosis of tumors using immunohistochemistry on tissue sections, but are also a useful tool in cytopathology and flow cytometric assays. For example, cytokeratin 19 is not expressed in hepatocytes, therefore, it is useful in the identification of liver metastasis.