Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 3 Human Recombinant
Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 3 Human Recombinant, Sf9
Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 6 Recombinant Human
Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 7 Human Recombinant
Carcinoembryonic Antigen Human Recombinant
Carcinoembryonic Antigen Human Recombinant, His Tag
Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 Human Recombinant
Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 21 Human Recombinant
Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 8 Human Recombinant
Sf9, Baculovirus cells.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion. It is part of a family of related glycoproteins known as the carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs). CEA is primarily used as a tumor marker in clinical settings to monitor the treatment and progression of certain cancers, particularly colorectal cancer .
CEA is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 150-180 kDa. It is composed of a protein core and multiple carbohydrate chains. CEA is normally produced in gastrointestinal tissue during fetal development, but its production ceases before birth. In healthy adults, CEA levels are typically very low (about 2-4 ng/mL) . However, elevated levels can be found in certain cancers and non-cancerous conditions .
CEA interacts with other molecules and cells through its glycosyl phosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchor, which attaches it to the cell membrane. This interaction facilitates cell-cell adhesion and signaling. CEA can bind to other CEACAM family members and participate in homotypic binding, which is essential for its role in cell adhesion .
The expression and activity of CEA are regulated at multiple levels, including transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications. The CEA gene family includes a promoter region that confers cell type-specific expression. Post-translational modifications, such as glycosylation, are crucial for the proper functioning of CEA .
CEA is widely used in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. It serves as a tumor marker for monitoring the treatment and progression of cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. CEA levels are measured in blood tests to assess the effectiveness of cancer treatments and to detect recurrences . Additionally, CEA is being explored as a target for therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy .
CEA plays a significant role throughout the life cycle, from development to aging and disease. During fetal development, CEA is produced in gastrointestinal tissue. In adults, its levels are typically low but can increase in response to certain cancers and inflammatory conditions. Monitoring CEA levels can provide valuable insights into the progression of diseases and the effectiveness of treatments .