Actin proteins are highly conserved in eukaryotic cells and are involved in cell motility, structure and integrity. Actin and myosin are involved in a myriad of cellular processes including locomotion, secretion, cytoplasmic streaming, phagocytosis and cytokinesis. Actin filaments, along with microtubules, comprise a major component of the cytoskeleton and play essential roles in regulating cell shape and movement. Actin has been found to be expressed in at least six isoforms, each encoded by a separate gene and expressed in a developmentally regulated and tissue-specific manner. Alpha, beta and gamma actin isoforms have been identified. Alpha actins are a major constituent of the contractile apparatus, whereas beta and gamma actins are involved in the regulation of cell motility.

ACTA2 encodes alpha Smooth Muscle Actin and is also known as alpha-actin, alpha-actin-2, aortic smooth muscle or alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA, SMactin, alpha-SM-actin, ASMA). Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin is frequently used as a marker of smooth muscle differentiation and has a theoretical molecular weight of 42 kDa. Smooth muscle alpha actin is one of a few genes whose expression is predominantly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells that is used to study myofibroblasts and fibrosis (1). Excessive accumulation of alpha smooth muscle actin-positive (ACTA2+) activated myofibroblasts is observed in Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (2). Expression of smooth muscle alpha actin is regulated by cell proliferation and is altered in pathological conditions including atherosclerosis and is common in metastatic cancers (1,3).

References

1. Chakraborty, R., Saddouk, F. Z., Carrao, A. C., Krause, D. S., Greif, D. M., & Martin, K. A. (2019). Promoters to Study Vascular Smooth Muscle. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 39(4), 603-612. doi:10.1161/atvbaha.119.312449

2 .El Agha, E., Moiseenko, A., Kheirollahi, V., De Langhe, S., Crnkovic, S., Kwapiszewska, G., . . . Bellusci, S. (2017). Two-Way Conversion between Lipogenic and Myogenic Fibroblastic Phenotypes Marks the Progression and Resolution of Lung Fibrosis. Cell Stem Cell, 20(2), 261-273.e263. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2016.10.004

3. Chen, Y. C., Gonzalez, M. E., Burman, B., Zhao, X., Anwar, T., Tran, M., . . . Kleer, C. G. (2019). Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Engulfment Reveals Metastatic Advantage in Breast Cancer. Cell Rep, 27(13), 3916-3926.e3915. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.084

Long Name

Actin, Alpha 2, Smooth Muscle, Aorta

Alternate Names

AAT6, ACTA2, Actin alpha 2, ACTSA, ACTVS, alphaSmooth Muscle Actin, MYMY5, SMA

Gene Symbol

ACTA2

Additional alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Products

Product Documents for alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody (132D3) [Alexa Fluor® 647]

Product Datasheets

Download Product Datasheets

COA

SDS

Download SDS

Product Specific Notices for alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody (132D3) [Alexa Fluor® 647]

Alexa Fluor (R) products are provided under an intellectual property license from Life Technologies Corporation. The purchase of this product conveys to the buyer the non-transferable right to use the purchased product and components of the product only in research conducted by the buyer (whether the buyer is an academic or for-profit entity). The sale of this product is expressly conditioned on the buyer not using the product or its components, or any materials made using the product or its components, in any activity to generate revenue, which may include, but is not limited to use of the product or its components: (i) in manufacturing; (ii) to provide a service, information, or data in return for payment; (iii) for therapeutic, diagnostic or prophylactic purposes; or (iv) for resale, regardless of whether they are resold for use in research. For information on purchasing a license to this product for purposes other than as described above, contact Life Technologies Corporation, 5791 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, CA 92008 USA or outlicensing@lifetech.com. This conjugate is made on demand. Actual recovery may vary from the stated volume of this product. The volume will be greater than or equal to the unit size stated on the datasheet.

This product is for research use only and is not approved for use in humans or in clinical diagnosis. Primary Antibodies are guaranteed for 1 year from date of receipt.

Citations
Reviews

Spectra Viewer
Flow Cytometry

alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody (132D3) [Alexa Fluor® 647]

Novus Biologicals, part of Bio-Techne | Catalog # NBP2-59429AF647

Key Product Details

Species Reactivity

Applications

Label

Antibody Source

Concentration

View all alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibodies »

Product Specifications

Immunogen

Reactivity Notes

Clonality

Host

Isotype

Applications for alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin Antibody (132D3) [Alexa Fluor® 647]

ELISA

Flow Cytometry

Immunocytochemistry/ Immunofluorescence

Western Blot

Formulation, Preparation, and Storage

Purification

Formulation

Preservative

Concentration

Shipping

Stability & Storage

Background: alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin