Anti-Cathepsin D (HC) Antibody

Cathepsin D is a lysosomal aspartic protease that mediates intracellular protein turnover, autophagy, and stress-induced apoptosis. The full-length 52 kDa pro-enzyme is proteolytically matured into an active heterodimer consisting of a ~34 kDa heavy chain and a ~14 kDa light chain joined by disulfide bonds. This rabbit polyclonal antibody from Antibodies.com targets the heavy chain (HC) region, enabling selective Western blot detection of the catalytically mature subunit across human, mouse, and rat samples.

Supplied unconjugated at 1 mg/ml in PBS with 0.1% sodium azide and 50% glycerol, the 100 µl vial is ready for direct dilution into standard blotting workflows. The glycerol matrix protects the immunoglobulin from freeze damage, supporting storage at -20°C without loss of activity. Investigators working on breast cancer invasion models, neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, and lysosomal biogenesis routinely rely on heavy chain-specific reagents to distinguish mature Cathepsin D from its pro-form on immunoblots.

Under reducing SDS-PAGE conditions, the antibody recognizes a band at approximately 34 kDa that corresponds to the heavy chain fragment. Aliquot upon first thaw to minimize freeze-thaw cycles, and keep working stocks refrigerated at 4°C for short-term use. The unconjugated format is compatible with HRP- or fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies for chemiluminescent or fluorescent Western blot detection, and is intended for research use only in cell lysates and tissue homogenates.