Monoclonal antibodies to Kaiso:: A novel transcription factor and p120ctn-binding protein

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 p120(ctn), but the significance of the interaction remains unknown. Although p120(ctn) is normally found in association with E-cadherin at cell-cell junctions, it can translocate to the nucleus under certain circumstances. Thus, the p120(ctn)-Kaiso interaction may regulate transcriptional events, as has been described previously for the classical catenin, beta -catenin and the LEF1/TCF transcription factor. To facilitate further study of Kaiso and to determine the physiological relevance of its interaction with p120(ctn), we have generated and characterized a panel of five Kaiso-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that function in immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence analyses.