The enzyme S-adenosylmethionine synthetase, or MAT, catalyzes the formation of S- adenosylmethionine (AdoMet or SAMe) from methionine and ATP. AdoMet is the principal biological source of synthesized methyl, and is found in all cells but most prominently in the liver. In mammalian tissues, there are three distinct AdoMet synthases - the alpha, beta, and gamma isoforms. While the alpha and beta variants are uniquely expressed solely in the adult liver, gamma is more widely distributed in the extrahepatic tissues. Alpha and beta appear to be induced in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while patients with chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis due to various triggers (including alcohol) have lowered levels of MAT activity as well as SAMe biosynthesis.
Immunocytochemistry/Immunofluorescence: MAT2A Antibody
Excellent reviews on AdoMet and MAT family function and involvement in cell growth and liver cancer have been written by Lu1,2. A USC group used the MAT2A antibody in their studies in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to map the mechanisms driving MAT2A gene transcriptional regulation3. They identified several peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor response elements (PPREs) that allow PPARs gamma and beta, respectively, to negatively and positively regulate MAT2A as HSCs switch from quiescence to activation. Rho’s group from the Hutchinson Cancer Center created a novel high-dimensional and sensitive screening method for detecting autoantigens (in their native state) complexed with their autoantigens (also in a native state)2. The MAT2A antibody allowed them to validate that their rapid high-throughput method on plasma and serum samples. They were able to detect hundreds of autoantibodies complexed with cell proteins and suggested that these complexes will be useful for detection and disease characterization.
Novus Biologicals offers MAT2A reagents for your research needs including:
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