Monoclonal Antibodies to Kaiso: A Novel Transcription Factor and p120 ctn -Binding Protein

Abstract

The POZ-zinc finger protein Kaiso belongs to a rapidly growing superfamily of BTB/POZ zinc finger transcription factors implicated in embryonic development and cancer. Kaiso interacts with the catenin p120^ctn, but the significance of the interaction remains unknown. Although p120^ctn is normally found in association with E-cadherin at cell-cell junctions, it can translocate to the nucleus under certain circumstances. Thus, the p120^ctn-Kaiso interaction may regulate transcriptional events, as has been described previously for the classical catenin, β-catenin and the LEF1/TCF transcription factor. To facilitate further study of Kaiso and to determine the physiological relevance of its interaction with p120^ctn, we have generated and characterized a panel of five Kaiso-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that function in immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence analyses.