iFluor™ 488 Conjugated Cytokeratin 20 Recombinant Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody [SA35-03]

Function

Keratin 20, often abbreviated CK20, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KRT20 gene. Keratin 20 is a type I cytokeratin. It is a major cellular protein of mature enterocytes and goblet cells and is specifically found in the gastric and intestinal mucosa. In immunohistochemistry, antibodies to CK20 can be used to identify a range of adenocarcinoma arising from epithelia that normally contain the CK20 protein. For example, the protein is commonly found in colorectal cancer, transitional cell carcinomas and in Merkel cell carcinoma, but is absent in lung cancer, prostate cancer, and non-mucinous ovarian cancer. It is often used in combination with antibodies to CK7 to distinguish different types of glandular tumour.

Background References

1. Strand DW et al. Deficiency in metabolic regulators PPAR and PTEN cooperates to drive keratinizing squamous metaplasia in novel models of human tissue regeneration. Am J Pathol 182:449-59 (2013).

2. Volkmer JP et al. Three differentiation states risk-stratify bladder cancer into distinct subtypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109:2078-83 (2012).

Sequence Similarity

Belongs to the intermediate filament family.

Tissue Specificity

Expressed predominantly in the intestinal epithelium. Expressed in luminal cells of colonic mucosa. Also expressed in the Merkel cells of keratinized oral mucosa; specifically at the tips of some rete ridges of the gingival mucosa, in the basal layer of the palatal mucosa and in the taste buds of lingual mucosa.

Post-translational Modification

Hyperphosphorylation at Ser-13 occurs during the early stages of apoptosis but becomes less prominent during the later stages. Phosphorylation at Ser-13 also increases in response to stress brought on by cell injury (By similarity).; Proteolytically cleaved by caspases during apoptosis. Cleavage occurs at Asp-228.

Subcellular Location

Cytoplasm

UNIPROT

SwissProt: P35900 Human

Synonyms