Focal adhesions are identified as areas within the plasma membrane of tissue culture cells that adhere tightly to the underlying substrate. In vivo, these regions are involved in the adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix. Paxillin and vinculin are cytoskeletal, focal adhesion proteins that are components of a protein complex which links the Actin network to the plasma membrane. Vinculin binding sites have been identified on other cytoskeletal proteins, including talin and alpha-actinin each contain actin binding sites. Reportedly, vinculin is a potential plasma biomarker for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The early detection of AMD using novel plasma biomarkers with genetic modeling may enable timely treatment and vision preservation in the elderly. Primary antibodies are available purified, or with a selection of fluorescent CF Dyes and other labels. CF Dyes offer exceptional brightness and photostability. Note: Conjugates of blue fluorescent dyes like CF405S and CF405M are not recommended for detecting low abundance targets, because blue dyes have lower fluorescence and can give higher non-specific background than other dye colors.
