STAM (Signal Transducing Adaptor Molecule) antibodies are tools used to study the STAM family of adaptor proteins, which play critical roles in intracellular signal transduction and membrane trafficking. Discovered in the mid-1990s, STAM proteins (STAM1 and STAM2) are evolutionarily conserved and interact with components of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery. They function as adaptors, linking receptor tyrosine kinases, cytokine receptors, and other signaling molecules to downstream pathways regulating cell growth, differentiation, and endocytic sorting.
Structurally, STAM proteins contain VHS (Vps27. Hrs, STAM), SH3 (Src homology 3), and ITAM (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif) domains. These domains enable interactions with ubiquitinated cargo (via VHS), signaling partners (via SH3), and tyrosine kinases (via phosphorylated ITAM). STAM antibodies specifically target these domains or post-translational modifications (e.g., tyrosine phosphorylation) to investigate their roles in processes like receptor downregulation, multivesicular body formation, and viral budding.
Research utilizing STAM antibodies has elucidated their involvement in diseases, including cancer (via dysregulated growth signaling) and immunodeficiency disorders. They remain essential for studying ESCRT-mediated membrane trafficking and cytokine signaling pathways in both physiological and pathological contexts.