Anti-NPC1 Antibody

Mutations in the Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) gene result in a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an abnormal sequestration of lipids including cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. The NPC1 protein is a large protein that resides in the limiting membrane of endosomes and lysosomes and mediates intracellular cholesterol trafficking via binding of cholesterol to its N-terminal domain. NPC1 transports low-density lipoproteins to late endosomal/lysosomal compartments where they are hydrolized and released as free cholesterol. NPC1, in addition to FTO, MC4R, and PTER has recently been shown to be a new risk loci for early-onset and morbid adult obesity in European populations. This anti-NPC1 antibody will not cross-react to NPC2, another gene whose defects also result in Niemann-Pick type C disease.

NPC1 antibody was raised against a 16 amino acid synthetic peptide from near the carboxy terminus of human NPC1. The immunogen is located within the last 50 amino acids of NPC1.

Intracellular cholesterol transporter which acts in concert with NPC2 and plays an important role in the egress of cholesterol from the endosomal/lysosomal compartment (PubMed:9211849, PubMed:9927649, PubMed:10821832, PubMed:18772377, PubMed:27238017, PubMed:12554680) . Unesterified cholesterol that has been released from LDLs in the lumen of the late endosomes/lysosomes is transferred by NPC2 to the cholesterol- binding pocket in the N-terminal domain of NPC1 (PubMed:9211849, PubMed:9927649, PubMed:18772377, PubMed:19563754, PubMed:27238017, PubMed:28784760) . Cholesterol binds to NPC1 with the hydroxyl group buried in the binding pocket (PubMed:19563754) . Binds oxysterol with higher affinity than cholesterol. May play a role in vesicular trafficking in glia, a process that may be crucial for maintaining the structural and functional integrity of nerve terminals (Probable) .

NPC1 antibody can be stored at 4°C for three months and -20°C, stable for up to one year. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Antibodies should not be exposed to prolonged high temperatures.