Monoclonal Antibodies to Kaiso: A Novel Transcription Factor and p120ctn-Binding Protein

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Abstract
The POZ-zinc finger protein Kaiso belongs to a rapidly growing superfamily of BTB/POZ zinc finger transcription factors implicated in embryonic development and cancer. Kaiso interacts with the catenin p120ctn, but the significance of the interaction remains unknown. Although p120ctn is normally found in association with E-cadherin at cell-cell junctions, it can translocate to the nucleus under certain circumstances. Thus, the p120ctn-Kaiso interaction may regulate transcriptional events, as has been described previously for the classical catenin, β-catenin and the LEF1/TCF transcription factor. To facilitate further study of Kaiso and to determine the physiological relevance of its interaction with p120ctn, we have generated and characterized a panel of five Kaiso-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that function in immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence analyses.