Clone REAL436 is an antibody fragment derived from the full Ly-49A antibody molecule. It displays no binding to Fc receptors. The recombinantly engineered antibody fragments are multimerized to form the REAlease Complex to bind markers with high avidity.

Clone REAL436 recognizes th mouse Ly49A antigen, an inhibitory cell surface receptor belonging to the Ly49 receptor family. Ly49A is a 44 kDa type-II transmembrane, disulfide-linked homodimer with C-type lectin extracellular domains. Expression of Ly49A is found on subset of NK and NK-T cells. Ly49 family members are both activating and inhibitory receptors and are mainly receptors for MHC class I molecules. Ly49A interacts strongly with MHC class Ia molecules such as H-2Dd, H-2Dk and weakly with H-2Db. An inhibitory signal is delivered by Ly49A engagement via the phosphorylation of immunoreceptor tyrosine based inhibition motif (ITIM) and recruitment of phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2. Recognition of cognate ligand bearing cells leads to inhibition of cytotoxic killing of cells by NK cells.

The REAlease Kits consist of the respective fluorochrome-conjugated REAlease Complexes and the REAlease Support Kit for removal of the REAlease Complexes and optional relabeling with different fluorochrome-conjugated REAlease Complexes.