Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein.1 It is composed of an extracellular domain (EpEX) that contains an N-domain, a thyroglobulin type-IA domain, and a C-domain, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain (EpIC). EpEX undergoes proteolytic cleavage by disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 17 (ADAM17/TACE) to release soluble EpEX, and γ-secretase cleaves EpCAM at two sites to release a soluble extracellular amyloid-β-like fragment and EpIC. EpCAM is ubiquitously expressed in epithelial tissues but is also found in stem and progenitor cells and tight junctions.2,3 It is involved in cell adhesion, transport, polarity, proliferation, and motility and signals through novel PKC (nPKC), Wnt, and embryonic RAS (ERAS)/Akt pathways.2 Knockdown of EPCAM decreases proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro.4 Epcam-/- mice develop congenital tufting enteropathy (CTE), a disease characterized by hemorrhagic diarrhea, colon crypt hyperplasia, intestinal tufts, and villous atrophy.5 Increased protein levels of EpCAM are frequently found in tumors from patients with diverse cancer types.6 Cayman’s EpCAM Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody (Clone 28) can be used for ELISA, ELISA (detection), flow cytometry (FC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunofluorescence (IF), immunohistochemistry paraffin (IHC-P), immunoprecipitation (IP), and Western blot (WB) applications. The antibody recognizes EpCAM at 34 kDa from human samples. However, due to glycosylation the antibody may recognize EpCAM at approximately 38-40 kDa.WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.
