Antibody suppliers

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a highly conserved protein complex located on the inner mitochondrial membrane where it functions during the Krebs cycle by oxidizing succinate to fumarate (1). This reaction is also important for feeding electrons into the electron transport chain. SDH complex contains four subunits: SDH-A, -B, -C, and -D. Mutation of SDH-A often leads to mitochondrial encephalopathy while mutations to subunits B, C, and D lead to tumors of the head and neck (1).

Caspases are essential mediators of programmed cell death and are needed for both the induction of apoptosis as well as for aiding the degradation of cellular structures. Initiator caspases (such as Caspase-9) sense and respond to various signals including intracellular stress or binding of the death receptor to external ligands. Upon dimerization, initiator caspases gets activated, which follows cleavage of downstream effector caspases for carrying out the apoptotic program.

Caspases are typically known for their role in cell death. However some caspases have recently been investigated for their function during cell proliferation and differentiation. Of these caspase-14 shows a unique expression pattern in the skin and appears to be involved in keratinocyte differentiation. Procaspase-14 is detected in the stratifying epithelium while activated caspase-14 is found only in terminally differentiated keratinocytes (1). Caspase-14 activity is not involved in apoptosis. Instead, caspase-14 is important for keratinization of the epithelium.

There are 3 major autophagy pathways- microautophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy, and macroautophagy. Macroautophagy is the pathway herein referred to as simply autophagy.

Transforming growth factor-beta receptor III (TGF-beta RIII) is one of three receptors for the secreted growth factor TGF-beta. Unlike type I and type II TGF-beta receptors, TGF-beta RIII does not participate directly in the propagation of intracellular signaling in response to TGF-beta binding (1). TGF-beta RIII typically functions as a coreceptor for TGF-beta by binding the ligand with high affinity in order to regulate signaling. TGF-beta RIII contains a large glycosylated extracellular domain and a small intracellular domain.

FAS-associated death domain protein (FADD) is a 23 kDa adaptor protein involved in initiating apoptosis. FADD is best known for its involvement in extrinsic/death receptor-mediated apoptosis, but it is also involved in initiating necroptosis with serine/threonine kinases RIPK1 and RIPK3 (1). FADD binds to receptors of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily through its C-terminal death domain (DD). During extrinsic apoptosis, binding of the Fas-ligand causes trimerization of the Fas-receptor which then binds to FADD via the DD domain.

Cathepsins are a family of lysosomal proteases (serine, aspartic and cysteine proteases) that acts in conjunction with lipases and nucleases to degrade biological macromolecules in the lysosomes (1). While most cathepsins are ubiquitously expressed to support normal lysosomal degradation, cathepsin B is unique for its role in various pathologies and malignancies (2). Cathepsin B is often overexpressed and alternatively spliced in cancer cells (2).

SLC34A1 encodes the 69 kDa sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein 2A (Npt2a). SLC34A is a member of the type II sodium-phosphate co-transporter family, along with SLC34A3 which encodes Npt2c. These proteins are abundantly expressed along the proximal tubules of the kidneys where most of the filtered inorganic phosphate (Pi) is reabsorbed into the body. Renal reabsorption of Pi directly regulates blood phosphate levels, important for many metabolic processes.

Aside from their important role in apoptosis, caspases also play an important role in inflammatory processes. Humans express four inflammatory caspases: Caspase-1, -4, -5, and -12. Caspase-12 is a 48 kDa protein localized to the ER and involved in the ER stress response. Caspase-12 contains a caspase-associated recruitment domain (CARD) and two catalytic domains, p20 and p10 (1).

Monocyte chemotractant protein-1 (MCP-1), also known as CCL2, is a key chemokine involved in the migration of monocytes and macrophages to sites of active inflammation. It is a member of the C-C/beta family of cytokines, characterized by the Cys-Cys sequence at its N-terminus (1). MCP-1 is tethered to endothelial cells via glycosaminoglycans within the plasma membrane (2). MCP-1 cleavage by MMP-12 is necessary for MCP-1 to interact with its receptor CCR2.