Merck, T6074-200UL, Anti-α-Tubulin antibody, Mouse monoclonal

α -tubulin, also called tubulin α 4a (TUBA4A), is mapped to human chromosome 2q35. The gene codes for a member of the α-tubulin family, and contains 448 amino acids. TUBA4A belongs to the subfamily of tubulin, which is the major building block of microtubules. α -subunit of tubulin has molecular weight of 50,000. Monoclonal Anti-α-Tubulin (mouse IgG1 isotype) is derived from the hybridoma B-5-1-2 produced by the fusion of mouse myeloma cells and splenocytes from mice immunized with Sarkosyl-resistant filaments from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (sea urchin). Tubulin is a heterodimer that consists of α-tubulin and β-tubulin. Both subunits have a molecular weight of approx. 50 kDa and share considerable homology. In addition to α- and β-tubulin, several other tubulins have been identified, bringing the number of distinct tubulin classes to seven. Most of these tubulins have distinct subcellular localization and an emerging diverse set of functions. Tubulin is the major building block of microtubules. This intracellular, cylindrical, filamentous structure is present in almost all eukaryotic cells. Microtubules function as structural and mobile elements in mitosis, intracellular transport, flagellar movement, and the cytoskeleton. Microtubular systems contain at least three α-tubulin isoforms. Two isoforms are coded by two αt-ubulin genes, which are both transcribed and code for extremely similar proteins. The third isoform is generated by post-translational modification.