HISTONE H4 Antibodies

Histone H4 is one of the core histones, forming the nucleosome with histones H2A, H2B, and H3, around which DNA is wrapped. Histone H4 plays a critical role in chromatin structure and the regulation of gene expression. Like other histones, H4 undergoes various post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation, that regulate chromatin compaction and gene accessibility. 

Content on Histone H4 Antibodies

Histone H4 is highly conserved and is crucial for nucleosome stability and higher-order chromatin structures. Post-translational modifications of H4, such as acetylation at lysine 16 (H4K16ac) and methylation at lysine 20 (H4K20me3), serve as epigenetic markers that regulate chromatin accessibility, DNA repair, and transcription. Histone H4 antibodies can target either the core H4 protein or specific PTMs, allowing researchers to investigate how H4 modifications influence chromatin states, gene regulation, and nuclear processes.

Application of Histone H4 Antibodies

• DNA Damage and Repair Research: H4 modifications, particularly H4K20 methylation, are involved in DNA damage response and repair pathways. H4 antibodies specific to these modifications help study how chromatin is remodeled in response to DNA damage, facilitating the recruitment of repair factors to the damaged sites and ensuring genomic stability.
• Cancer Research: Dysregulation of H4 modifications is often associated with cancer. For example, hypoacetylation of H4 has been linked to gene silencing in tumor suppressor genes, while aberrant methylation patterns can contribute to oncogenic gene expression. Histone H4 antibodies are employed in cancer research to explore how changes in H4 modifications affect chromatin structure and gene regulation in cancer cells.
• Stem Cell and Developmental Biology: During differentiation, the chromatin landscape undergoes dynamic changes, with histone modifications playing a central role in regulating gene expression programs. H4 antibodies are used to track these modifications, particularly acetylation and methylation patterns, to understand how chromatin remodeling governs stem cell differentiation and development.
• Transcriptional Regulation: Acetylation of histone H4 is closely associated with transcriptional activation. H4 antibodies specific to acetylated H4 (e.g., H4K16ac) are used to study how chromatin is opened to allow transcription factors to access DNA, while methylation-specific antibodies (e.g., H4K20me3) are used to investigate gene repression mechanisms.

Histone H4 antibodies are indispensable tools for studying chromatin organization, gene regulation, and epigenetic modifications, with wide-ranging applications in cancer research, developmental biology, and transcriptional control.