Anti-Human CD133(Prominin-1)

The EMK08 monoclonal antibody reacts with human CD133 (Prominin-1), a 120 kDa member of the pentaspan family of proteins, which also includes Prominin-2. Their expression is found within plasma membrane protrusions such as epithelial microvilli. CD133 can exist in a number of alternatively spliced isoforms, and the protein has several N-linked glycosylation sites; the occurrence of both may be tissue-dependent. Human CD133 was first identified as an epitope expressed on CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors. Although the ligand and function of CD133 remain unknown, it has since proven to be very useful as a marker for both stem cells and cancer stem cells. In addition to its expression on hematopoietic precursors, CD133 has been used to identify tumorigenic colon cancer stem cells, brain cancer stem cells, prostate cancer stem cells, in addition to others.