Merck Anti-Podocin, Mouse monoclonal

Anti-Podocin, Mouse monoclonal

clone PD-65, purified from hybridoma cell culture

NPHS2

Podocytes are highly specialized visceral epithelial cells that cover the outer aspect of the glomerulus in the kidney. The foot processes of adjacent podocytes regularly interdigitate leaving filtration slits that are bridged by a thin slit diaphragm. This is an extracellular adherens-like junction that serves as a barrier to macromolecules and plays a crucial role in the glomerular filtration process. Podocin (NPHS2 protein) is an important member of a group of proteins shown to be associated with the slit diaphragm. Podocin belongs to the band-7-stomatin family of lipid raft-associated proteins. It is a hairpin-like integral membrane protein with intracellular N- and C- termini. Podocin is located at the insertion site of the slit membrane, and is thought to act as a scaffold protein required to maintain or regulate the structural integrity of the slit diaphragm. It interacts there with nephrin (NPHS1 protein), a protein critical in development and function of the kidney filtration barrier and the adapter protein CD2-AP. Podocin is anchored in the glycosphingolipids and cholesterol rich lipid rafts of the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and is partially localized with the actin cytoskeleton. In vitro studies suggest its involvement in nephrin signaling facilitation via AP-1 in HEK cells. In addition to its presence in the kidney, it was also reported in rat nervous tissue and possibly in vascular smooth muscle.