Mouse Monoclonal Antibody to ALDH1L1 Cat# MCA-4A12

      Aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1, member L1 (ALDH1L1) is a cytosolic enzyme and one member of a large family of aldehyde dehydrogenases. ALDH1L1 catalyses the NADP(+) dependent oxidation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and Carbon dioxide (1). ALDH1L1 expression is highly tissue specific, with very high levels in the liver, representing up to 1% of the total pool of soluble cell proteins. Cahoy et al. used fluorescent activated cell sorting to isolate astrocytes from enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing transgenic mice, with GFP expression being under the control of the S100β promoter, expected to direct GFP to astrocytes. They then created a transcriptome database of the gene expression levels using Affymetrix GeneChip arrays (2). They identified ALDH1L1 mRNA as very abundant and expressed only in astrocytes, suggesting that ALDH1L1 protein would be a expressed at high levels and only in astrocytes. Based on immunocytochemical studies they claimed that ALDH1L1 is more widely expressed in astrocytes throughout the brain, while the widely used astrocyte marker GFAP shows more predominant expression in white matter. The also claimed that AlDH1L1 expression gives a more detailed view of astrocyte morphology since it is expressed throughout the cell including fine protoplasmic protrusions. In contrast GFAP is found in the intermediate filament core of the astrocyte, and these filaments are not found in finer cytoplasmic protrusions. Loss of function or expression of ALDH1L1 is associated with decreased apoptosis, increased cell motility, and cancer progression, suggesting its role as a potential biomarker and a target in cancer therapy (3-5).<

Chromogenic immunostaining of a NBF fixed paraffin embedded human brain cortex section with mouse mAb to ALDH1L1, MCA-4A12, dilution 1:1,000, detected with DAB (brown) using the Vector Labs ImmPRESS method and reagents with citra buffer retrieval. Hematoxylin (blue) was used as the counterstain. The MCA-4A12 antibody specifically labels the cytoplasm of astrocytic glial cells. This antibody performs well in testing with both 4% PFA and standard NBF fixed rat and human tissues but does not stain long term NBF fixed tissue effectively. Mouse select image for larger view.



Chromogenic Immunostaining of a formalin fixed paraffin embedded human cerebellum section with mouse mAb to ALDH1L1, MCA-4A12, dilution 1:1,000, detected with DAB (brown) using the Vector Labs ImmPRESS method and reagents with Borg retrieval (pH=9.5, Biocare Medical). Hematoxylin (blue) was used as the counterstain. In this image, the MCA-4A12 antibody strongly labels the cytoplasm and nuclei of Bergmann glia cells. This antibody performs well in testing with both 4% PFA and NBF fixed rat and human tissues but requires high pH retrieval to stain long term NBF fixed tissue effectively. Mouse select image for larger view.

1. Kisliuk RL. Folate biochemistry in relation to antifolate selectivity. In :Jackman AL, editor. Antifolate drugs in cancer therapy. Totowa, NJ:　Humana Press; p. 13-36 (1999).
2. Cahoy JD, et al. A transcriptome database for　astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes: a new resource for understanding　brain development and function. J. Neurosci. 28:264-78 (2008).
3. Krupenko SA, Oleinik NV. 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, one of the major folate enzymes, is down-regulated in tumor tissues and possesses suppressor effects on cancer cells. Cell Growth Differ. 13:227-36 (2002).
4. Rodriguez FJ, et al. Gene expression profiling of NF-1-associated and sporadic pilocytic astrocytoma identifies aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member L1 (ALDH1L1) as an underexpressed candidate biomarker in aggressive subtypes. J. Neuropath. Exp. Neurol. 67:1194-204 (2008).
5. Oleinik NV, Krupenko NI, Krupenko SA. Epigenetic Silencing of ALDH1L1, a Metabolic Regulator of Cellular Proliferation, in Cancers. Genes Cancer. 2:130-9 (2011).