Antibodies

Akt1 is a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase involved in many cellular signaling pathways. The major function of this kinase is to mediate cell survival, but it also plays key roles in various other cellular functions such as glycogen synthesis and cell growth. Akt1 acts as a transducer for growth factor receptors that modulate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity. Akt is believed to be a factor in cancer as the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was found to antagonize both PI-3 kinase and Akt kinase activity.

Livin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family that regulates programmed cell death. The Livin protein contains a single baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) essential for function, along with a COOH-terminal RING-type zinc finger domain. In general, IAP proteins block apoptosis by binding and inhibiting caspases through this BIR domain. Two Livin splicing variants, alpha and beta, have been identified, and each has different anti-apoptotic properties. With Livin expression low in adult tissues, it is somewhat higher in developmental tissues.

TLR1 belongs to the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, and is a key player in the recognition of pathogens as well as the activation of the innate immunity system. TLRs are highly conserved proteins with a high degree of structural and functional homology from Drosophila to humans. By recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are exhibited across a spectrum of ligands, including infectious agents, TLRs modulate cellular cytokine production needed for efficient innate immunity development.

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a normal component of cellular differentiation and the development of multicellular organisms. Receptor activator of NF-kB (RANK) lacks significant homology with the other family members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily. The cytoplasmic domain of RANK interacts with the tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factors, adaptor proteins such as TRAF2, TRAF5 and TRAF6.

Dicer is an RNaseIII-like enzyme capable of cleaving double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into smaller 21-23 nt RNA fragments known as short interfering RNA (siRNAs). It targets the selective degradation of complementary RNAs in a posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) manner and is key for cell differentiation and development. Unlike long-dsRNA-dependent PTGS which is limited to certain cell types, siRNA can act in a wide variety of cells.

Cell death via apoptosis is a key cellular function triggered by the cell death receptor family and their ligands which signal through downstream adaptor molecules and the caspase protease family. Among the subclass of initiator caspases that include subtypes -2, -8 and -9, caspase 9 is expressed in a variety of human tissues.

The protein TLR6 is one member of the large Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, which governs the activation of the innate immunity system and pathogen recognition in cells. The TLR family is highly conserved from Drosophila to humans, and all the family members have a high degree of both functional and structural homology. TLRs modulate cytokine production by cells that is required to effectively establish innate immunity.

Cells undergo apoptotic programmed cell death in response to various stimuli, and this key mechanism is necessary for cellular morphogenesis, tissue homeostasis, and host defense. Particular cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the Fas ligand signal through their cooperative death domain-containing receptors tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and Fas. Like its cousin TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2 is widely expressed in both normal tissues as well as in many types of tumor cells.

Also known as PROM1 and AC133, this gene is located on chromosome 4p15 and encodes CD133, a 120kDa pentaspan transmembrane glycoprotein (5-TM) and presents multiple spliced variants. Prominin-1 (CD133) was the first protein identified as "Prominin"; originated from the Latin word "Prominere" meaning to protrude and was initially detected on CD34 bright hematopoietic stem cells using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised against human CD34⁺cells.

Steroid receptors (SRs) are a superfamily of ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factors that activate responsive genes response to hormone. Androgen receptors (ARs) are found in a wide variety of tissues, including reproductive organs, central nervous system (CNS), and skeletal muscle. AR signaling is fundamental for the development and function of male reproductive organs, but also plays a role in non-reproductive organs such as muscle, hair follicles, and brain.