MUC4 Antibody / Mucin-4 [clone MUC4/3105] (V7542)

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 widely referred to as MUC4 in the literature, is primarily localized to the apical surface of epithelial cells where it contributes to mucosal barrier function and epithelial signaling. MUC4 antibody is commonly used in studies of epithelial differentiation and tumor biology because Mucin-4 is frequently overexpressed and dysregulated in a variety of carcinomas.

MUC4 is synthesized as a high molecular weight precursor that undergoes proteolytic processing into two subunits that remain associated at the cell surface. Its extracellular domain contains tandem repeat sequences that are heavily O-glycosylated, forming a protective mucin layer. In normal tissues, Mucin-4 expression is largely restricted to glandular and ductal epithelia, including respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosa. During malignant transformation, MUC4 expression often becomes upregulated and loses normal apical polarity, contributing to tumor progression, altered cell adhesion, and resistance to apoptosis. MUC4 antibody is therefore valuable for evaluating epithelial tumor differentiation and oncogenic signaling pathways.

Mucin-4 has been shown to interact with receptor tyrosine kinases such as ERBB2, enhancing downstream signaling involved in proliferation, survival, and metastatic behavior. Elevated MUC4 expression has been documented in pancreatic, breast, lung, ovarian, and colorectal carcinomas, where it may correlate with aggressive disease and poor clinical outcome. Because of its role in tumor biology, MUC4 antibody is frequently applied in cancer research and translational 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 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 antibody.

Storage

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