The hypothalamic Oxytocin (OT) is a nine-amino acid peptide, which exerts multiple biological actions as a hormone and as neurotransmitter. OT stimulates uterine smooth muscle and mammary myoepithelial cell contraction, prostaglandin production by uterine endometrial and amnion cells, milk ejaculation from the mammary gland, and induction of specific mating behavior and maternal behaviors. Just before the onset of labor, uterine myometrium becomes extremely sensitive to oxytocin, for which it is a primary target tissue, because of a dramatic increase in the number of oxytocin receptors. OT initiates its physiological activity by interacting with the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) known as oxytocin receptor (OTR). The encoded receptor is a 388-amino-acid polypeptide with 7 transmembrane domains typical of G protein-coupled receptors. Messenger RNAs for the receptor are of two sizes, 3.6 kilobases in breast, and 4.4 kilobases in ovary, uterine endometrium and myometrium. The mRNA level in the myometrium is very high at term.

The US-2 element in the promoter of the human oxytocin receptor gene (OTR) binds specifically nuclear proteins from human myometrium at parturition. Using the US-2 element in a yeast 1-hybrid system to screen a human myometrium cDNA library, a full-length cDNA encoding the homolog of chicken musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family (MafF) was isolated. Human MAfF (hMAfF) (mouse 156-aa, chicken 149-aa, human 164-aa; chromosome 22q12.2-q13.2) is ~18 kDa protein. Like other small MAF proteins (e.g., MAFG) it contains an extended leucine zipper structure and lacks an N-terminal transactivating domain. MafF is strongly expressed in term myometrium and from kidney, but not from nonpregnant myometrium. MAFF may play a role in OTR gene upregulation.
 

m=mouse; r=rat; h=human; b=bovine; d=dog; ~CT or ~NT=near C or N-terminus. EC=Extracellular; CP=Cytoplasmic domain; Control peptides (unconjugated, free, antigenic peptides), because of their small size, are not recommended for Western. They should be used in ELISA/antibody blocking studies.

* Expected antibody crossreactivity information is mostly based upon high (>70%) sequence conservation of antigenic/control peptides in various species. When antibody crossreactivity has actually been experimentally confirmed in various species, it will be mentioned in the appropriate data sheets.

"Neat Antisera or antisera" are the unpurified antiserum and it is suitable for ELISA and Western.
"Affinity pure" IgG may be more suitable for immunohistochemical (IHC) applications and to reduce background in most immunological applications including ELISA and Western.
"Control peptides" can not be used for Western as they are very short peptides. They are intended for ELISA or antibody blocking studies to establish antibody specificity.
Western blot +ve protein controls, where available, are semi-pure, pure or recombinant proteins that are formulated in SDS-PAGE sample buffer. They are recommended to be used for Western (load 10 ul/lane) for visualization with antibodies.

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