MyBioSource.com's VIMENTIN Antibody is a Mouse monoclonal antibody. The VIMENTIN Antibody was generated using VIM, and Vimentin as the antigen. It reacts with Human, and Non-Human Primate. This antibody has been shown to work in applications such as: ELISA, Immunohistochemistry, and Western Blot.
Description
Background: Vimentin, also know as VIM. It is the major subunit protein of the intermediate filaments of mesenchymal cells. It is believed to be involved with the intracellular transport of proteins between the nucleus and plasma membrane. Vimentin has been implicated to be involved in the rate of steroid synthesis via its role as a storage network for steroidogenic cholesterol containing lipid droplets. Vimentin phosphorylation by a protein kinase causes the breakdown of intermediate filaments and activation of an ATP and myosin light chain dependent contractile event. This results in cytoskeletal changes that facilitate the interaction of the lipid droplets within mitochondria, and subsequent transport of cholesterol to the organelles leading to an increase in steroid synthesis. Immunohistochemical staining for Vimentin is characteristic of sarcomas (of neural, muscle and fibroblast origin) compared to carcinomas which are generally negative. Melanomas, lymphomas and vascular tumors may all stain for Vimentin. Vimentin antibodies are thus of value in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated neoplasms and malignant tumors