Cortactin (CTTN) Antibody – Rabbit Polyclonal

This gene is overexpressed in breast cancer and squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The encoded protein is localized in the cytoplasm and in areas of the cell-substratum contacts. This gene has two roles: (1) regulating the interactions between components of adherens-type junctions and (2) organizing the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion structures of epithelia and carcinoma cells. During apoptosis, the encoded protein is degraded in a caspase-dependent manner. The aberrant regulation of this gene contributes to tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Three splice variants that encode different isoforms have been identified for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, May 2010]

Cortactin: a cytoskeletal protein that that is involved in coordinating actin reorganization during cell movement. Localizes at the leading edge of lamellipodia during cell migration. Its amino-terminal acidic domain associates with the Arp2/3 and WASP complex at F-actin branches. The central region of the protein contains six repeats of 37 amino acids that are important in F-actin binding and cross-linking. The carboxy-terminus contains a proline-rich region and an SH3 domain that can interact with numerous scaffolding proteins, such as CortBP1 and Shank3. Cortactin may play a role in the organization of transmembrane receptors at postsynaptic densities (PSD) and tight junctions by linking scaffolding proteins to the actin network. It is degraded in a caspase-dependent manner during apoptosis. It is overexpressed in numerous cancers with poor patient prognosis. It may contribute to tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Two splice variant isoforms have been identified.

Protein type: Cytoskeletal; Motility/polarity/chemotaxis; Actin-binding

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 11q13

Cellular Component: cortical cytoskeleton; voltage-gated potassium channel complex; focal adhesion; dendritic spine; actin filament; coated pit; cell cortex; ruffle; cytoskeleton; growth cone; lamellipodium; cytoplasm; podosome

Molecular Function: protein binding

Biological Process: focal adhesion formation; intracellular protein transport; receptor-mediated endocytosis; positive regulation of actin filament polymerization; actin filament polymerization; actin cytoskeleton reorganization; cell motility involved in cell locomotion; regulation of axon extension; substrate-bound cell migration, cell extension; neurite morphogenesis