c-Kit Monoclonal Antibody (ACK4), PE, Invitrogen™

Description

• KIT (c-KIT) is a proto-oncogene and a type 3 transmembrane receptor for MGF (mast cell growth factor, also known as stem cell factor)
• KIT was first identified as the cellular homolog of the feline sarcoma viral oncogene v-kit
• KIT together with its ligand regulates growth and activation of a variety of hemopoietic and non-hemopoietic cells
• Mutations in KIT are associated with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, mast cell disease, acute myelogenous leukemia, and piebaldism
• Recently, deregulation of the KIT receptor TK by the prevalent activation loop mutation D816V has served as a focal point in therapeutic strategies aimed at curbing neoplastic mast cell growth
• c-Kit is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells, germ cells, mast cells and gastrointestinal tract cajal cells
• Upon binding of its ligand stem cell factor (SCF), c-kit dimerizes, resulting in receptor activation and autophosphorylation of various tyrosine residues including tyrosine 703 located on the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor
• This modification allows docking of Grb2 and activation of the Ras/ERK signaling pathway
• SCF/c-kit can activate multiple downstream signaling pathways including PI3K, PLC-gamma and JAK/STAT
• c-kit receptor activation is essential for hematopoiesis, stem cell maintenance and gametogenesis.