Protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ), a member of the protein kinase C (PKC) family, is a calcium- and diacylglycerol (DAG)-dependent serine/threonine kinase belonging to the classical PKC subfamily (cPKC). It is encoded by the PRKCG gene and is highly expressed in the central nervous system, particularly in cerebellar Purkinje cells, hippocampal neurons, and specific brainstem regions. PKCγ plays critical roles in synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and motor coordination by modulating ion channels, neurotransmitter release, and intracellular signaling pathways. Its activation involves translocation to cell membranes upon phospholipid binding, facilitated by secondary messengers like calcium and DAG.
PKCγ-specific antibodies are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and function in physiological and pathological contexts. These antibodies, often developed in rabbits or mice, target unique epitopes within the regulatory or catalytic domains of PKCγ, enabling differentiation from other PKC isoforms (e.g., PKCα, PKCβ). They are widely used in techniques such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence to investigate PKCγ's involvement in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 linked to PRKCG mutations), neuroinflammation, and cancer. Aberrant PKCγ activity has also been associated with pain signaling, addiction mechanisms, and psychiatric disorders, making its antibodies valuable for both basic research and therapeutic development.