Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), also known as TROP1 and CD326, is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a role in a number of cellular processes including adhesion, signaling, maintaining stemness, proliferation, migration, and invasion (1,2). The human EpCAM protein is 314 amino acids (aa) in length with a theoretical molecular weight (MW) of ~35 kDa (1,3,4). The EpCAM protein includes a signal peptide, an extracellular N-terminal domain, a thyroglobulin type-1 domain, a carboxyl-terminal domain, a single-pass transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain (1,3). The protein is highly conserved and has approximately 81% aa sequence identity between human and mouse (5). Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2) also shares ~67% aa sequence similarity with EpCAM (1,5). While both EpCAM and TROP2 are cell surface markers expressed in the epithelium, their expression levels typically do not correlate (5). EpCAM is expressed in normal epithelial tissue and elevated expression is observed in many epithelial carcinomas (1-3) Patient tumor samples with increased EpCAM expression have been associated with poor prognosis (1). Given EpCAM's elevated expression in tumors, it has become a potential target for cancer therapy approaches, including monoclonal antibody treatment and anti-EpCAM trispecific antibodies (1,5).

EpCAM functions as an intracellular signaling molecule and contributes to regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition (4,5). EpCAM is cleaved during the process of regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) (4,5). Initial cleavage occurs at the membrane via a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) which releases EpCAM's extracellular domain (EpEx) (4,5). A secondary cleavage is mediated by presenilin 2 (PSEN2) which releases EpCAM's cytoplasmic trail (EpICD) (4,5). EpICD translocates to the nucleus where it associates with beta-catenin, FHL-2, and LEF-1 and induces transcription of genes related to EMT and tumor growth (4,5). EpCAM has also been shown to regulate structure and functionality of the apical junction complex of cells through direct interaction with claudin-7 and association with E-cadherin (2,5). Loss of EpCAM disrupts adherins junction and tight junction structure and function (2).

References

1. Mohtar MA, Syafruddin SE, Nasir SN, Low TY. Revisiting the Roles of Pro-Metastatic EpCAM in Cancer. Biomolecules. 2020; 10(2):255. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10020255

2. Huang L, Yang Y, Yang F, et al. Functions of EpCAM in physiological processes and diseases (Review). Int J Mol Med. 2018; 42(4):1771-1785. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2018.3764

3. Brown TC, Sankpal NV, Gillanders WE. Functional Implications of the Dynamic Regulation of EpCAM during Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition. Biomolecules. 2021; 11(7):956. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11070956

4. Uniprot (P16422)

5. Schnell U, Cirulli V, Giepmans BN. EpCAM: structure and function in health and disease. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013; 1828(8):1989-2001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.04.018

Long Name

Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule

Alternate Names

17-1A, CD326, GA733-2, gp40, KS1/4, M4S1, TACSTD1, TROP1

Gene Symbol

EPCAM

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Product Specific Notices for EpCAM/TROP1 Antibody (G8.8R) [Alexa Fluor® 532]

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.

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EpCAM/TROP1 Antibody (G8.8R) [Alexa Fluor® 532]

Novus Biologicals, part of Bio-Techne | Catalog # FAB8998X

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Background: EpCAM/TROP1