Anti-Versican/VCAN Antibody Picoband®

Versican (VCAN), also known as CSPG2, is a large extracellular matrix proteoglycan that is present in a variety of human tissues. Versican is a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan with an apparent molecular mass of more than 1000kDa. The Versican gene is mapped on 5q14.2-q14.3. The human versican gene contains 15 exons spanning more than 90 kb. The distribution of versican by using affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies that recognize the core protein of the prominent versican splice variants V0 and V1. Versican staining was noted in the central and peripheral nervous system, in the basal layer of the epidermis, and on the luminal surface of some glandular epithelia. Biochemical purification of LLC-conditioned medium led to identification of the extracellular matrix proteoglycan versican, which is upregulated in many human tumors including lung cancer, as a macrophage activator that acts through TLR2 and its coreceptors TLR6 and CD14. By activating TLR2:TLR6 complexes and inducing TNF-alpha secretion by myeloid cells, versican strongly enhances LLC metastatic growth.

Versican core protein; Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core protein 2; Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 2; Glial hyaluronate-binding protein; GHAP; Large fibroblast proteoglycan; PG-M; VCAN; CSPG2

A synthetic peptide corresponding to a sequence at the N-terminus of human Versican, different from the related mouse and rat sequences by two amino acids.

Cerebral white matter and plasma. Isoform V0 and isoform V1 are expressed in normal brain, gliomas, medulloblastomas, schwannomas, neurofibromas, and meningiomas. Isoform V2 is restricted to normal brain and gliomas. Isoform V3 is found in all these tissues except medulloblastomas.

May play a role in intercellular signaling and in connecting cells with the extracellular matrix. May take part in the regulation of cell motility, growth and differentiation. Binds hyaluronic acid.

1. Bode-Lesniewska, B., Dours-Zimmermann, M. T., Odermatt, B. F., Briner, J., Heitz, P. U., Zimmermann, D. R. Distribution of the large aggregating proteoglycan versican in adult human tissues. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 44: 303-312, 1996. 2. Dours-Zimmermann, M. T., Zimmermann, D. R. A novel glycosaminoglycan attachment domain identified in two alternative splice variants of human versican. J. Biol. Chem. 269: 32992-32998, 1994. 3. Naso, M. F., Morgan, J. L., Buchberg, A. M., Siracusa, L. D., Iozzo, R. V. Expression pattern and mapping of the murine versican gene (Cspg2) to chromosome 13. Genomics 29: 297-300, 1995.

Store at -20°C for one year from date of receipt. After reconstitution, at 4°C for one month. It can also be aliquotted and stored frozen at -20°C for six months. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.