Polyclonal Antibody to Tyrosinase

Background
Principal Names: Tyrosinase (oculocutaneous albinism IA); LB24-AB; Monophenol monooxygenase; OCA1A; Tumor rejection antigen AB; SK29-AB; OCAIA; Official Gene Symbol: TYR Gen Bank Accession Number: Gene ID: 7299 (Human) Gene Map Locus: 11q14-q21 (human)

Tyrosinase (monophenol, dihydroxy-phenylalanine: oxygen oxidoreductase; E.C 1.14.18.1), a type I transmembrane glycoprotein involved in the regulation of pigmentation process in humans. It is the rate-limiting enzyme involved in melanin biosynthesis and consists of a large catalytic luminal domain anchored to the membrane by a C-terminal transmembrane domain and a short cytosolic tail. Tyrosinase catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to DOPA-quinone and then oxidization of 5, 6-dihydroxyindole to indole-5.6-quinone. Mutations in Tyrosinase cause tyrosinase negative type I oculocutaneous albinism (OCAI). Tyrosinase is a melanoma antigen and is an important target for anti-melanoma vaccine synthesis.

Antigen
Recombinant human tyrosinase protein.

Application Notes
We suggest an incubation period of 30 minutes at room temperature. However, depending upon the fixation conditions and the staining system employed, optimal incubation conditions should be determined by the user. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections require high temperature antigen unmasking with 10 mM citrate buffer, pH 6.0 prior to immunostaining. Specificity: This antibody reacts with 70-80 kD protein. Tyrosinase is a copper containing metalloglycoprotein that catalyzes several step in the melanin pigment biosynthetic pathway. Tyrosinase and melan A are the most commonly expressed melanoma markers and are found in approximately 80 to 100% of cases. This antibody is helpful in the identification of melanocytic tumors. Cellular Localization: Cytoplasmic.

Genebank Info (Nucleotide): NP_000363

Reference
1. Popescu et.al JBC 280 (14) 13833-13840 (8 April, 2005)
2. Watabe et.al JBC 279 (9) 7971-7981 (27 February, 2004)