Application

Paraffin embedded sections of rat testis tissue grafts were immunohistochemically stained with mouse monoclonal anti-smooth muscle actin. IHC analysis of x-gal stained muouse cardiac tissue was performed using the primary antibody, mouse monoclonal anti-smooth muscle actin to identify myofibroblasts.

Immunocytochemistry was performed on smooth muscle cells from bovine aortas using the monoclonal anti-ACTA2 antibody. Cells were first grown on glass cover slips and fixed in 50% acetone/EtOH for 10 minutes at 4 degrees.

Anti-Actin, α-Smooth Muscle antibody, Mouse monoclonal has been used in immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Biochem/physiol Actions

Actin and myosin are constituents of many cells types and are involved in a myriad of cellular processes including locomotion, cytokinesis, secretion, cytoplasmic streaming and phagocytosis. It has been shown that the relative proportion of actin isoforms are different in smooth muscles of different organs and change within the same population of smooth muscle cells during development, pathological situations and different culture conditions. The actin in cells of various species and tissue origin are very similar in their immunological and physical properties.

Disclaimer

Unless otherwise stated in our catalog or other company documentation accompanying the product(s), our products are intended for research use only and are not to be used for any other purpose, which includes but is not limited to, unauthorized commercial uses, in vitro diagnostic uses, ex vivo or in vivo therapeutic uses or any type of consumption or application to humans or animals.

General description

Actin is a highly conserved protein that is a major component of both the cytoskeletal and contractile structures in all cell types. It varies in amount, being related to the type of differentiation and to the functional state of cells and tissues. Actin can be found in two different forms of aggregation, the globular or the fibrillar state, and at least six distinct isoforms occur in vertebrates. The actins exhibit over 90% sequence homology, but each isoform has a unique NH2-terminal sequence. The isoforms are comprised of three alpha actins (skeletal, cardiac, smooth), one beta actin (beta-non-muscle) and two gamma actins (gamma smooth muscle and gamma non-muscle).

Anti-Actin, α-Smooth Muscle antibody, Mouse monoclonal (mouse IgG2a isotype) is derived from the 1A4 hybridoma produced by the fusion of mouse myeloma cells and splenocytes from mice immunized with the NH2 terminal synthetic decapeptide of a smooth muscle actin, coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).

The antibody (also known as anti-α-Sm-1) is specific for the single isoform of α-smooth muscle actin. It reacts specifically with α-smooth muscle actin in immunoblotting assays and labels smooth muscle cells in frozen or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections.

Immunogen

N-terminal synthetic decapeptide of α-smooth muscle actin.

Other Notes

To view an Actin antibody selection guide, please visit www.sigmaaldrich.com/actin.

Packaging

200 µL in glass bottle

Physical form

Solution in 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4, containing 15 mM sodium azide.