Background of the antigen
COPA (alpha-coat protein) is processed to produce Xenin. Xenin stimulates exocrine pancreatic secretion to affect small and large intestinal motility, and inhibits pentagastrin-stimulated secretion of acid. In the gut, Xenin interacts with the neurotensin receptor. Membrane and vesicular trafficking in the early secretory pathway are mediated by non-Clathrin COP (coat protein) I-coated vesicles. COPI-coated vesicles mediate retrograde transport from the Golgi back to the ER and intra-Golgi transport. The cytosolic precursor of the COPI coat, the heptameric coatomer complex, is composed of two subcomplexes. The first consists of the COPB, COPG, COPD and COPZ subunits (also known as b-, g-, d- and z-COP, respectively), which are distantly homologous to AP Clathrin adaptor subunits. The second consists of the COPA, b'-COP and COPE subunits (also known as a-COP, COPP and e-COP, respectively).
