Villin monoclonal antibody

Villin is a member of the gelsolin family of calcium-regulated actin-binding proteins. Unlike the ubiquitously expressed gelsolin, villin expression is restricted to simple epithelia of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. It is localized to the apical cytoplasm and brush borders of these cells. Villin functions in the regulation of actin dynamics in the apical epithelium, capping, nucleating and/or severing actin filaments in a calcium-dependent manner and regulating cell shape in response to external stimuli. Phosphorylation of villin at Tyr60, 81, and 256 may be involved in the regulation of cell migration. Expression of villin is increased in colorectal cancers, and villin-1 function appears to be involved in progressive cholestasis and hepatic failure.