The clone SK1 specifically binds with a 32-34 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein of human cells commonly known as CD8a. It is a member of immunoglobulin superfamily. The CD8α forms either a homodimer (2 alpha chains) or a heterodimer with CD8β and is expressed on the surface of cytotoxic T cells, and sub-sets of NK cells, cortical thymocytes, and also on some dendritic cells. CD8 functions as a co-receptor for T cell receptor and specifically binds to class I MHC for antigen recognition and T cell activation. It has the cross-reactive binding affinity with the CD8 cell surface antigen expressing in several non-human primates, including Baboon, Chimpanzee, Cynomolgus and Rhesus.
Each lot of these antibodies has been pre-titrated and tested by flow cytometric analysis of human PBMCs such that 0.5µg (unconjugated) of these products are sufficient for staining 1 million cells in a 100µl staining volume or 100µl of whole blood. It is recommended to titrate antibody reactivity empirically for optimal performance.