Rabbit Polyclonal MYLK Antibody

Myosin light chain kinase (MYLK) is a calcium/calmodulin-dependent enzyme that plays a critical role in regulating smooth muscle and non-muscle cell contraction. It phosphorylates the regulatory light chains of myosin, activating actin-myosin interactions, which drive cellular processes like motility, migration, and vascular tone. MYLK exists in multiple isoforms, including long (smooth muscle) and short (non-muscle) forms, with distinct tissue distributions and functions. MYLK antibodies are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and activity in physiological and pathological contexts. Research has linked MYLK dysregulation to cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hypertension, aneurysms), inflammatory conditions, and cancer metastasis, where aberrant cell contractility or endothelial barrier disruption occurs. MYLK mutations are also implicated in hereditary aortic disorders, such as familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD). Antibodies targeting specific MYLK isoforms enable investigations into its tissue-specific roles, post-translational modifications, and interactions with signaling pathways. They are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and functional assays to explore MYLK's contribution to disease mechanisms or therapeutic targeting. Validation of MYLK antibodies remains crucial due to isoform complexity and cross-reactivity risks.