Recombinant Human Fascin is a protein that has garnered significant interest in the field of cell biology due to its role in actin-bundling and its implications in various cellular processes. Fascin is a 55 kDa actin-bundling protein that is crucial for the formation of cellular protrusions such as filopodia, which are essential for cell motility and migration .
Fascin is composed of 493 amino acids and is typically expressed in Escherichia coli for recombinant production . The recombinant form of Fascin often includes a His-tag at the N-terminus to facilitate purification and detection . The protein is highly purified, with a purity greater than 95%, making it suitable for various biochemical and structural studies .
Fascin plays a pivotal role in the organization of actin filament bundles. It contains two major actin-binding sites that allow it to cross-link actin filaments into tightly packed, parallel bundles . This bundling activity is essential for the formation of microspikes, membrane ruffles, and stress fibers, which are critical for cell shape and movement .
Fascin is not only important for normal cellular functions but also has significant implications in cancer biology. It is absent from most normal epithelial tissues but is upregulated in various forms of human carcinoma . The expression of Fascin in tumors is often associated with increased cell motility and invasiveness, correlating with a poor prognosis in cancer patients .