CAV1 Antibody

The scaffolding protein encoded by the CAV1 gene is the key component of the caveolae plasma membranes found in most cell types. Cholesterol is vital for caveolae formation and maintenance, and caveolae structure is highly sensitive to cholesterol depletion or treatment with cholesterol binding drugs. CAV1 can tightly and specifically bind free cholesterol and artificial cholesterol containing vesicles. Caveolin 1 links integrin subunits to the tyrosine kinase FYN, which is an initiating step in coupling integrins to the Ras-ERK pathway and promoting cell cycle progression. CAV1 is a tumor suppressor gene candidate and a negative regulator of the Ras-p42/44 mitogen-activated kinase. Caveolin 1 and caveolin 2 are positioned next to each other on chromosome 7 and express co-localizing proteins which form a stable hetero-oligomeric complex cascade. Mutations in the CAV1 gene are linked to Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy.