CD56 Rat anti-Mouse, Unlabeled, Clone: 12F8, BD

Description

• Cell adhesion molecules are present on the surface of most cells (CAMs)
• Neural CAMs play a key role in the development of the embryonic nervous system
• Expression of neural CAMs provides neurons with a means of attaching to and interacting with other cells and the extracellular matrix
• The cell surface adhesion molecule N-CAM is important in mediating initial axon outgrowth and cell migration during development
• In the mature nervous system, N-CAM is important in regulating cell interactions
• Additionally, the expression of several CAMs, including N-CAM is altered following injury to the peripheral nervous system
• Antibodies recognizing specific CAM forms have been instrumental in defining their roles in the nervous system
• Monoclonal 12F8 specifically recognizes the polysialic acid on N-CAM
• The embryonic form of N-CAM is highly polysialylated during development which is later replaced by the lesspolysialic acid (PSA)-laden mature forms of N-CAM
• Clone 12F8 recognizes the polysialic acid on N-CAM.2 It recognizes all species tested, from fish through human
• 12F8 reacts with a neuraminidase-sensitive epitope of N-CAM
• The epitope recognized by 12F8 is more highly expressed in the embryonic than in the adult brain
• As such, 12F8 is useful for distinguishing embryonic forms of N-CAM from adult forms which have decreased polysialic acid expression
• In addition to brain, 12F8 reacts with some non-neuronal cells
• However it does not appear to recognize mouse NK cells
• Mouse membrane fractions were used as immunogen.