MUC4/Mucin-4 Antibody [clone MUC4/3084] (V7541)

Description

MUC4 antibody targets Mucin-4, a large transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by the human MUC4 gene and a member of the membrane-bound mucin family. Mucin-4, also commonly referred to as MUC4 in the literature, is primarily localized to the apical surface of epithelial cells where it contributes to mucosal barrier protection and epithelial signaling. MUC4 antibody is widely used in studies of epithelial differentiation and tumor biology because Mucin-4 is frequently overexpressed and dysregulated in multiple carcinomas.

MUC4 is synthesized as a high molecular weight precursor that undergoes proteolytic processing into two subunits that remain associated at the cell surface. The extracellular domain contains tandem repeat regions that are heavily O-glycosylated, forming a protective mucin barrier. In normal tissues, Mucin-4 expression is largely restricted to glandular and ductal epithelia of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts. During malignant transformation, MUC4 expression often becomes upregulated and loses normal apical polarity, contributing to altered cell adhesion, enhanced tumor cell survival, and increased metastatic potential. MUC4 antibody is therefore valuable for evaluating epithelial tumor differentiation and oncogenic signaling mechanisms.

Mucin-4 has been shown to interact with receptor tyrosine kinases such as ERBB2, enhancing downstream signaling pathways that promote proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. Elevated MUC4 expression has been documented in pancreatic, breast, lung, ovarian, gastric, and colorectal carcinomas, where it may correlate with aggressive disease and unfavorable clinical outcome. Because of its involvement in tumor progression, MUC4 antibody is frequently applied in cancer research and translational oncology studies.

Structurally, Mucin-4 contains an extensive extracellular mucin domain with tandem repeats, epidermal growth factor-like domains, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic tail involved in signal transduction. A MUC4 antibody is suitable for detecting Mucin-4 expression in epithelial tissues and carcinoma research applications.

Application Notes

The concentration stated for each application is a general starting point. Variations in protocols, secondaries and substrates may require the MUC4/Mucin-4 antibody to be titered up or down for optimal performance.

1. The prediluted format is supplied in a dropper bottle and is optimized for use in IHC. After epitope retrieval step (if required), drip mAb solution onto the tissue section and incubate at RT for 30 min.

Immunogen

Amino acids 1730-1864 from the human protein were used as the immunogen for this MUC4/Mucin-4 antibody.

Storage

Store the MUC4/Mucin-4 antibody at 2-8oC (with azide) or aliquot and store at -20oC or colder (without azide).