Alab Cells

The ALAB cell line is a human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line derived from a mammary tumor. It has been adapted to grow in vitro, particularly on collagen substrates, which facilitates the study of tumor cell behavior in mammary carcinomas. ALAB cells are notably used in research focused on calcium-binding and collagen-binding proteins (CaBP and CBP, respectively). In these cells, the calcium-binding proteins were isolated and analyzed, revealing a significant 38 kDa protein, which is closely associated with annexins, a family of proteins involved in cellular processes such as membrane trafficking and signal transduction. One of the key proteins identified in ALAB cells is annexin II, a calcium-dependent protein that binds to collagen and plays a role in various cellular functions, including exocytosis and cytoskeletal organization. Immunofluorescence studies of ALAB cells reveal a perinuclear granular pattern of annexin II expression, indicating its involvement in protein secretion and cellular differentiation. The 38 kDa annexin II protein detected in these cells is also associated with collagen-binding properties, which can be crucial for tumor progression and metastasis, making ALAB a valuable model for studying mammary tumor biology and protein interactions.