ACTA2/ACTG2 Monoclonal Antibody

Overview of ACTA2/ACTG2 Monoclonal Antibody

ACTA2 (Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin) and its synonym ACTG2 encode a cytoskeletal protein critical for smooth muscle cell structure and function. Monoclonal antibodies targeting ACTA2/ACTG2 are specialized tools for detecting this protein in research and diagnostic contexts. These antibodies are validated for techniques like Western blotting (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and flow cytometry (FC), enabling precise localization and quantification of ACTA2/ACTG2 in cells and tissues.

Key Antibody Characteristics

Validation Platforms

• WB: Detects 39–42 kDa bands in lysates from smooth muscle cells, glioma cells, and fibrotic tissues .

• IHC: Stains paraffin-embedded sections of vascular tissues, myofibroblasts, and tumors (e.g., leiomyosarcoma) .

• IF/ICC: Labels cytoplasmic actin filaments in cultured cells (e.g., aortic SMCs, U251MG glioma cells) .

• FC: Identifies ACTA2+ cell populations in blood or tumor samples .

Table: Antibody-Specific Applications

Role in Glioma Invasion and Recurrence

ACTA2 knockdown in U251MG glioma cells reduces cell motility and proliferation, indicating its role in tumor invasion. Elevated ACTA2 expression correlates with distant recurrence in glioma patients and predicts poor prognosis in WHO grade 4 tumors .

Aortic Pathology and NF-κB Signaling

• Acta2 knockout mice exhibit aortic dilation, increased elastic lamellae, and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). NF-κB activation in these mice enhances AngII receptor type 1 (Agtr1a) expression, exacerbating vascular stress .

• R149C variant: Causes delayed thoracic aneurysm formation by disrupting actin network organization and reducing integrin recruitment in aortic SMCs .

Cardiac Manifestations

Zebrafish models with ACTA2 G148R mutation recapitulate left ventricular non-compaction and aortic disease. Immunofluorescence studies using anti-ACTA2 antibodies confirm disrupted actin cytoskeletons in mutant hearts .

Table: Diagnostic Applications

Limitations and Considerations

• Cross-reactivity: Some antibodies may stain cardiac or skeletal muscle in rare cases .

• Epitope specificity: Antibodies targeting acetylated E3 sites (e.g., E184) may show altered binding in post-translational modification studies .

• Species variability: Reactivity with non-human primates (e.g., monkey) requires validation .