PICALM (Phosphatidylinositol-Binding Clathrin Assembly Protein) is a ubiquitously expressed adaptor protein involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, membrane trafficking, and autophagy. It plays a critical role in synaptic vesicle recycling, receptor internalization, and cargo sorting. The PICALM gene has been linked to several diseases, notably Alzheimer’s disease (AD), where genome-wide studies identified PICALM as a susceptibility locus. PICALM modulates amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, influencing Aβ production and clearance, making it a focus in AD research. Additionally, PICALM is implicated in cancer, particularly acute leukemia, due to chromosomal translocations forming oncogenic fusion genes (e.g., PICALM-MLLT10).
PICALM antibodies are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and interactions. They are used in techniques like Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation to investigate PICALM’s role in cellular pathways and disease mechanisms. Commercial antibodies target specific epitopes, enabling isoform detection or post-translational modification analysis. Validation in knockout models ensures specificity. Research utilizing these antibodies has advanced understanding of PICALM’s dual roles in neurobiology and oncology, highlighting its therapeutic potential. However, antibody variability requires careful optimization to avoid off-target effects, emphasizing the need for rigorous validation in experimental systems.