Villin Mouse anti-Human, Unlabeled, Clone: 12, BD

The isolated intestinal microvillus cytoskeleton (core) consists of four major proteins: actin, villin, fimbrin, and brush border myosin-I. These proteins can assemble in vitro into structures resembling native microvillus cores. Of these components, villin, and brush border myosin-I show tissue-specific expression, so they may be involved in the morphogenesis of intestinal microvilli. Found in association with the microvillar actin bundles of the intestinal brush border, villin is a 95kDa protein composed of two very similar domains of approximately 44kDa each, the core, and a C-terminal domain of 8kDa, the headpiece. The core has been shown to contain villin's Ca²⁺ regulated capping, nucleating, and severing activities, but it cannot induce the formation of microfilament bundles without the headpiece. Villin is a useful differentiation marker of early embryogenesis and may be useful in diagnosis and follow-up of colorectal cancers. It has been demonstrated that villin is necessary for both the cytoskeletal and membrane protein organization of a functional brush border.

Immunofluorescence, Immunohistochemistry, Immunoprecipitation, Western Blotting