Caldesmon (C-Term) Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody

Caldesmon is an actin-binding protein that regulates actin cytoskeleton organization and assembly in smooth muscle and non-muscle cells.{60237,60238} It is composed of an N-terminal myosin-binding domain, a central spacer region, and a C-terminal domain that contains binding sites for actin, as well as calmodulin and tropomyosin, and is subject to phosphorylation by a variety of kinases.{60237} Alternative splicing of the CALD1 pre-mRNA produces a heavy isoform, h-CaD, which is expressed by differentiated smooth muscle cells and localizes to actomyosin contractile structures, and a light isoform, l-CaD, which lacks the central spacer region and is expressed in non-muscle cells, where it localizes to podosomes and membrane ruffles.{60237,60238} Caldesmon regulates the interaction between actin and myosin, influencing cell contractility and cytoskeletal remodeling in an isoform- and cell-dependent manner.{60238} It inhibits the activity of actomyosin ATPase, an effect that is enhanced by tropomyosin and reversed by Ca2+-calmodulin or phosphorylation. Increased caldesmon protein expression has been found in patients with metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and is associated with poor prognosis.{60239} Cayman's Caldesmon (C-Term) Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody can be used for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB) applications.