Production of a monoclonal antibody directed against the recombinant SEL1L protein.

SEL1L, highly similar to the C elegans sel-1 gene, is a recently cloned human gene whose function is under investigation. SEL1L is differentially expressed in tumors and normal tissues and seems to play a role in tumor growth and aggressiveness. We used the recombinant N-terminus of the SEL1L protein to immunize a Balb/c mouse and produce a monoclonal antibody. A hybridoma secreting an antibody specifically reacting on the SEL1L recombinant fragment was selected. This monoclonal antibody, named MSel1, recognizes the SEL1L protein by Western blotting, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry on normal and tumor cells. MSel1 is able to recognize SEL1L even on archival tumor specimens and is therefore particularly appropriate to study SEL1L involvement in tumor progression.