Specificity
This antibody recognises the N-terminal region of Bcl-2 associated athanogene-1 (BAG1), a co-chaperone protein which binds to and regulates the 70 kDa heat shock proteins (Hsp70/Hsc70). BAG1 has also been shown to interact with the kinase Raf1, a number of steroid and tyrosine kinase receptors, and the Bcl-2 family of proteins. It is thought to function as a molecular switch between cell growth and differentiation, and cell survival.The BAG1 gene encodes three different isoforms; a predominantly cytosolic form of ~36 kDa (BAG1S), a ~46 kDa cytosolic and nuclear form (BAG1M), and a predominantly nuclear form of ~50 kDa (BAG1L).BAG1 displays potent neuroprotective activity in vivo against stroke, and could be used for reducing brain injury during cerebral ischemia and neurodegenerative diseases. BAG1 may also promote chemoresistance, growth factor independence, and anchorage independent cell growth in tumour cells.