We at Novus Biologicals recently created excitement when we added TMEM97 antibody to our database. We are the first antibody suppliers to offer a product targeted to TMEM97.
TMEM97 (transmembrane protein 97, also known as MAC30) is a multi-cross transmembrane protein that is widely distributed in normal tissues. It is of particular interest in cancer research, as it has been seen to be expressed in several cancers including ovarian, breast, pancreatic, renal and colonic cancers.
However, TMEM97 antibodies may also have a role to play in the study of heart disease, as TMEM97 was recently identified as one of 20 proteins that functionally regulate intracellular cholesterol levels (1). Plasma cholesterol levels, which are known to play a role in heart disease when elevated, are tightly linked to cellular levels. Researchers therefore set out to identify candidate genes by gene profiling of sterol-depleted cells, and by using existing literature. The role of each of the 20 genes identified was then examined by siRNA knockdown studies using targeted antibodies.
Immunocytochemistry/Immunofluorescence: TMEM97 Antibody
The studies showed that TMEM97 may regulate cholesterol homeostasis through co-localization with Niemann-Pick C1 gene (NPC1). It was found that in a sterol-depleted environment, TMEM97 was a target protein for SREBP (sterol regulatory element binding protein). It then bound to NPC1 following endo- lysomal compartmentalisation. NPC1 regulates transport of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This suggests that TMEM97 may play a role in regulating transport of LDL cholesterol via modification of the NPC1 transport mechanism, rather than having a more simplistic endocytic function on the membrane.
The addition of TMEM97 to our antibody database provides a valuable new tool for cholesterol research.
1. PMID: 19583955
Novus Biologicals offers many TMEM97 reagents for your research needs including:
