CD9 is a cell surface glycoprotein with four hydrophobic domains that form complexes with integrins and other members of the tetraspanin family . The protein is involved in the regulation of cell development, activation, growth, and motility. It is also known to participate in the formation of tetraspanin-enriched microdomains (TEMs), which are specialized areas of the cell membrane that facilitate signal transduction and cellular interactions.
CD9 is ubiquitously expressed in various tissues, including the immune system, where it serves as a marker for different cell types . It is predominantly localized to the plasma membrane but can also be found in intracellular compartments. The protein’s expression is regulated at both the transcriptional and post-translational levels, ensuring its proper function in various cellular contexts.
Recombinant human CD9 is produced using advanced biotechnological methods to ensure high purity and activity. The recombinant protein is typically expressed in host cells such as HEK293 cells, which are human embryonic kidney cells commonly used for protein production . The recombinant CD9 protein is often tagged with a polyhistidine tag at the C-terminus and a signal peptide at the N-terminus to facilitate purification and detection.
Recombinant human CD9 is widely used in research to study its role in various biological processes and diseases. It is particularly valuable in immunophenotyping, where it helps identify different cell types based on their surface markers . Additionally, CD9 is used in studies related to cancer, as its expression is often altered in various tumor types .