Protein Gene Product 9.5 (PGP9.5), also known as ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCHL-1), is a protein that plays a crucial role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This system is essential for the degradation of misfolded or damaged proteins, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. PGP9.5 is widely expressed in neuronal tissues and represents a significant portion of the total soluble brain proteins .
PGP9.5 is a thiol protease that recognizes and hydrolyzes a peptide bond at the C-terminal glycine of ubiquitin . This action is vital for the recycling of ubiquitin, a small regulatory protein that tags other proteins for degradation. By recycling ubiquitin, PGP9.5 helps regulate protein turnover and prevents the accumulation of damaged or misfolded proteins, which could otherwise lead to cellular dysfunction and disease .
PGP9.5 is predominantly expressed in neuronal tissues, including the central and peripheral nervous systems . It is found in neuronal cell bodies and axons, as well as in small nerve fibers in peripheral tissues . Additionally, PGP9.5 is present in neuroendocrine cells in the pituitary, thyroid, and pancreas, as well as in tumors of the diffuse neuroendocrine system .
The mouse anti human PGP9.5 antibody, particularly clone 31A3, is a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes PGP9.5 . This antibody has been widely used in research to study the expression and localization of PGP9.5 in various tissues. It stains neuronal cell bodies and axons in the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as small nerve fibers in peripheral tissues . The antibody has also been used to detect PGP9.5 in neuroendocrine cells and tumors .
The mouse anti human PGP9.5 antibody has several applications in research. It has been used in immunohistochemistry to study the distribution of PGP9.5 in tissues . Additionally, it has been employed in western blotting to detect PGP9.5 protein levels in various samples . The antibody has also been utilized in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to evaluate the presence of neuronal tissue contamination in processed meat samples .