Anti-PCDHA2 / Protocadherin alpha 2

Adding 0.2 ml of distilled water will yield a concentration of 500 ug/ml. PCDHA2 antibody detects Protocadherin alpha 2, a calcium-dependent cell adhesion protein encoded by the PCDHA2 gene on chromosome 5q31.3. PCDHA2 belongs to the protocadherin alpha gene cluster, a group of neural adhesion molecules that mediate cell-cell recognition, axon targeting, and synaptic specificity in the central nervous system. It is expressed predominantly in neurons, where it contributes to the establishment and maintenance of precise neural connectivity patterns. PCDHA2 plays an essential role in neuronal identity and self-avoidance through its combinatorial expression with other protocadherins in the alpha cluster.Structurally, PCDHA2 is a single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein composed of six extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane domain, and a conserved cytoplasmic tail that interacts with intracellular signaling molecules. It belongs to the cadherin superfamily, which includes classical cadherins, desmogleins, and other protocadherin clusters (beta and gamma). The extracellular cadherin domains of PCDHA2 mediate homophilic adhesion through calcium-dependent binding, while the cytoplasmic region connects to the actin cytoskeleton via catenins and other scaffold proteins.Functionally, PCDHA2 promotes cell adhesion specificity during neuronal development. It participates in establishing unique neuronal surface codes that guide synaptic pairing and axonal targeting. In mature neurons, PCDHA2 contributes to dendritic self-avoidance, ensuring that neurites from the same cell do not form redundant connections. It also supports synaptic stability by maintaining adhesion at postsynaptic densities. Co-localization studies show PCDHA2 localized to dendritic membranes and synaptic junctions, where it interacts with cytoskeletal and signaling partners.PCDHA2 expression is developmentally regulated, with high levels during neural differentiation and synapse formation. Dysregulation or mutation of protocadherin alpha genes, including PCDHA2, has been associated with autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and schizophrenia, highlighting their importance in brain circuit organization. Pathway involvement includes cell adhesion, synaptic signaling, and calcium-dependent cell communication. Isoform diversity among protocadherin alpha genes allows neurons to generate individual identity codes critical for neural wiring precision.The PCDHA2 antibody from NSJ Bioreagents is a valuable reagent for investigating neuronal adhesion, synaptic patterning, and brain development.