The C3 II.1 monoclonal antibody specifically recognizes CD49c which is also known as Integrin alpha 3 (α3 integrin). CD49c is encoded by ITGA3 (Integrin subunit alpha 3). CD49c is a 150 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein which non-covalently associates with integrin β1 (CD29) to form the α3β1 (CD49c/CD29, VLA-3) complex. CD49c is expressed mostly on endothelial and epithelial cells (basal epidermal layers). It is not expressed on platelets and is expressed weakly on peripheral blood leucocytes, including T cells, B cells, and monocytes. The CD49c/CD29 complex serves as an adhesive receptor for kalinin or epiligrin. This interaction may be important for thymocyte interaction with thymic epithelium.
The antibody was conjugated to BD Horizon™ BB700, which is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Blue family of dyes. It is a polymer-based tandem dye developed exclusively by BD Biosciences. With an excitation max of 485 nm and an emission max of 693 nm, BD Horizon BB700 can be excited by the 488 nm laser and detected in a standard PerCP-Cy™5.5 set (eg, 695/40-nm filter). This dye provides a much brighter alternative to PerCP-Cy5.5 with less cross laser excitation off the 405 nm and 355 nm lasers.