Cell polarity markers

Cell polarity: subcellular complexes, and cytoskeletal machinery, within one cell.


What is cell polarity?

Cell polarity refers to the existence of distinctive cellular components, composed of membranes with different lipid and protein contents, subcellular complexes, and cytoskeletal machinery, within one cell.

Such spatial asymmetric distribution allows cells to perform various functions: transport, cellular signaling, and mechanosensing. The most common cell polarity example is the polarity of epithelial cells.

Epithelial cell polarity

Epithelial cells form a continuous cell layer connected via specialized cell junctions:

- adherens junctions (nectins – PVRL proteins, E-cadherins, alpha (Figure 1) and beta catenins)

- tight junctions (zonula occludens proteins, e.g., ZO-1 (Figure 2), occludin)

- desmosomes

Figure 1. Immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded human stomach tissue slide using Alpha E catenin antibody
Figure 1. Immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded human stomach tissue slide using 12831-1-AP (Alpha E catenin antibody) at a dilution of 1:50 (under 40x lens).
Immunofluorescent analysis of fixed HUVEC cells using ZO-1 antibody
Figure 2. Immunofluorescent analysis of (-20°C Ethanol) fixed HUVEC cells using 21773-1-AP (ZO-1 antibody) at a dilution of 1:100 and Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated AffiniPure Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG(H+L).

This permits the formation of two distinctive compartments: apical and basolateral membranes (Figure 3). Typically, the apical membrane faces the external environment, while the basal membrane is connected to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the basement membrane via integrins and their receptors.

Formation of the apical membrane is governed by a family of transmembrane proteins: Crumbs (e.g., CRB3; Figure 4) and by the associated cytoplasmic multiprotein PAR complex (e.g., PARD3). The basolateral membrane is maintained by the activity of the SCRIB complex. The cytoskeleton, especially the actin filaments and microtubules, plays a role in maintaining the polarity.

Figure 4. Immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded human pancreas tissue slide using 12315-1-AP (CRB3 Antibody) at a dilution of 1:200 (under 10x lens).

 

 

Neuronal cell polarity

During the development, rounded neuronal cells develop a few short lamellipodia. One of these undergoes a rapid growth phase and becomes an axon. The others develop into dendrites. Actin filaments, microtubules, and their associated proteins regulate growth, stability, and transport along the cytoskeleton. This plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining the polarity of neurons (Figure 5). Therefore, cytoskeleton-associated proteins are widely used as markers for different cells’ neuronal parts. Microtubule-associated protein Tau and neurofilament proteins (especially NF-L; Figure 6) are commonly used axonal markers.

Figure 6. Immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded mouse brain tissue slide using 60189-1-Ig (NF-L antibody) at dilution of 1:200 (under 40x lens). Heat mediated antigen retrieved with Tris-EDTA buffer (pH9). 

 

IHCeasy by proteintech is a ready-to-use IHC kit and it is the most complete IHC kit on the market. Primary antibody included along with other reagents.

 

MAP2, a tubulin-binding protein that regulates the spacing and stability of microtubules, is a marker for dendrites and cell bodies (Figure 7). Tissue-specific splicing regulator NeuN (Figure 8) is used to visualize the nucleus of postmitotic neurons but can also be present in the soma. TUBB3 (TuJ1) is frequently used as a general neuronal marker since this type of beta tubulin is present in the cell body and dendrites, as well as axons.

Immunohistochemical of paraffin-embedded human brain using MAP2 antibody
Figure 7. Immunohistochemical of paraffin-embedded human brain using 17490-1-AP (MAP2 antibody) at a dilution of 1:100 (under 10x lens). Heat mediated antigen retrieved with Citric acid buffer, pH6.0.
Immunofluorescent analysis of (4% PFA) fixed mouse brain tissue using NeuN antibody
Figure 8. Immunofluorescent analysis of (4% PFA) fixed mouse brain tissue using 26975-1-AP (NeuN antibody) at a dilution of 1:50 and Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated AffiniPure Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG (H+L).

 


Cell polarity-related antibodies

Product ID

Antigen name

Cell polarity function

Epithelial cell polarity

21773-1-AP                               

ZO-1

Tight junction formation

12315-1-AP

CRB3                                                                            

Apical transmembrane protein

11085-1-AP

PARD3

Apical membrane formation

12831-1-AP

Alpha E catenin

Linking adherens junctions with actin cytoskeleton

51067-2-AP

Beta catenin

Linking adherens junctions with actin cytoskeleton

13409-1-AP

Occludin

Tight junction protein

60008-1-Ig

Beta actin

Organization of polarity

27096-1-AP

Integrin alpha V

Basal membrane integrity

18309-1-AP

Integrin beta 3

Basal membrane integrity

66315-1-Ig

Integrin beta 1

Basal membrane integrity

27189-1-AP

Integrin alpha 6

Basal membrane integrity

10569-1-AP

Integrin alpha 5

Basal membrane integrity

21738-1-AP

Integrin beta 4

Basal membrane integrity

22146-1-AP

Integrin alpha 1

Basal membrane integrity

24713-1-AP

PVRL1

Adherens junctions

27171-1-AP

Nectin 2

Adherens junctions

11213-1-AP

PVRL3

Adherens junctions

20874-1-AP

E-cadherin

Adherens junctions

27083-1-AP

SCRIB

Basolateral membrane formation

Neuronal cell polarity

66499-1-Ig

TAU

Abundant in axons (predominantly distal parts) - promotes assembly and stability of microtubules

17490-1-AP

MAP2

Present in dendrites and the cell body - regulating the spacing and stability of microtubules

26975-1-AP

NeuN

Predominantly in the nucleus - splicing regulator

60189-1-Ig

NF-L

Abundant in axons - a major class of intermediate filaments

66375-1-Ig

TUBB3

Stains cell body, dendrites, and axons - an isoform of tubulin expressed in neurons and testes