Microtubule Associated Protein 2 (MAP2) Antibody

MAP2 antibody detects Microtubule Associated Protein 2. Microtubules are 25nm diameter protein rods found in most kinds of eukaryotic cells. They are polymerized from a dimeric subunit made of one a subunit and one b tubulin subunit. Microtubules are associated with a family of proteins called microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) , which includes the protein τ (tau) and a group of proteins referred to as MAP1, MAP2, MAP3, MAP4 and MAP5. MAP2 is made up of two ~280kDa apparent molecular weight bands referred to as MAP2a and MAP2b. A third lower molecular weight form, usually called MAP2c, corresponds to a pair of protein bands running at ~70kDa on SDS-PAGE gels. All these MAP2 forms are derived from a single gene by alternate transcription, and all share a C-terminal sequence which includes either three or four microtubule binding peptide sequences, which are very similar to those found in the related microtubule binding protein τ (tau) . MAP2 isoforms are expressed only in neuronal cells and specifically in the perikarya and dendrites of these cells. MAP2 has been recently shown to be the specific receptor for the neurosteroid pregnenolone. Anti-Microtubule Associated Protein 2 antibody is tested for use in Western Blotting, ICC, and IHC. Specific conditions should be optimized by the end user. Expect a band of approximately 280 kDa in size corresponding to MAP2 proteins in Western blots in the appropriate cell lysate or extract.