CNN1 antibody targets calponin-1 (CNN1), a cytoskeletal protein predominantly expressed in smooth muscle cells and certain non-muscle cells. Belonging to the calponin family, CNN1 regulates smooth muscle contraction by modulating actin-myosin interactions, acting as a calcium-sensitive troponin T-like regulator. It plays a critical role in maintaining vascular tone, airway function, and gastrointestinal motility. Structurally, CNN1 contains conserved CH (calponin homology) domains that mediate binding to actin filaments, tropomyosin, and calmodulin, enabling its involvement in cytoskeletal organization and mechanotransduction.
Research using CNN1 antibodies has advanced understanding of smooth muscle differentiation, vascular remodeling, and pathologies like atherosclerosis, hypertension, and asthma. In diagnostics, CNN1 immunostaining helps identify smooth muscle cells in tissues, distinguishing them from myofibroblasts or other cell types in tumor microenvironments or fibrotic diseases. Aberrant CNN1 expression has been linked to cancer progression, particularly in tumors with smooth muscle origins (e.g., leiomyosarcoma) or epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The antibody is widely employed in techniques like immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence to study cellular dynamics, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic targets. Its specificity makes it a vital tool in exploring smooth muscle physiology and related disorders.