Merck, AB2033, Anti-Fibronectin Antibody

Fibronectin is a high molecular weight extracellular adhesion molecule involved in many cellular processes, including tissue repair or wound healing, embryogenesis, blood clotting, and cell migration/adhesion. Fibronectin exists in two major forms: 1) as an insoluble glycoprotein dimer that serves as a linker in the extracellular matrix (ECM), and 2) as a soluble disulfide-linked dimer found in the plasma. The plasma form is synthesized by hepatocytes, and the ECM form is made by fibroblasts, chondrocytes, endothelial cells, macrophages, as well as certain epithelial cells. Fibronectin sometimes serves as a general cell adhesion molecule by anchoring cells to collagen or proteoglycan substrates. It can also serve to organize cellular interaction with the ECM by binding to different components of the ECM and to membrane-bound fibronectin receptors on cell surfaces. The immunogen for fibronectin polyclonal antibody AB2033 is purified mouse plasma. The antibody shows less than 0.1% reactivity with mouse laminin, and collagen types I, III, and IV by radioimmunoassay.