MTERF Antibodies

MTERF antibodies are specific reagents used to detect and study the expression, localization, and regulation of MTERF proteins in cells and tissues. These antibodies are available in monoclonal and polyclonal forms and are highly specific to individual MTERF proteins, making them valuable tools for research into mitochondrial biology and dysfunction.

Applications of MTERF Antibodies

• Western Blotting (WB): MTERF antibodies are frequently used in Western blot assays to detect MTERF proteins in cell and tissue lysates. This application helps to assess the expression levels of MTERF proteins under different physiological conditions, such as mitochondrial stress, disease progression, or aging.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): MTERF antibodies are employed in IHC to localize MTERF proteins within tissue sections. This is particularly useful for studying mitochondrial function in specific tissues, such as muscle, brain, or liver, where mitochondrial dysfunction is a common feature of disease.
• Immunoprecipitation (IP): MTERF antibodies can be used to immunoprecipitate MTERF proteins and their associated complexes from cell or mitochondrial extracts. This technique allows researchers to investigate protein-protein interactions between MTERF proteins and other mitochondrial factors involved in transcription, replication, and translation.
• ELISA: MTERF antibodies can be utilized in ELISA assays to quantitatively measure the levels of MTERF proteins in various biological samples, such as serum, plasma, or tissue homogenates. This application is useful for identifying changes in MTERF protein levels in response to mitochondrial dysfunction or during disease states.

Key MTERF Proteins Targeted by Antibodies

• MTERF1: The first discovered member of the MTERF family, MTERF1 is primarily involved in terminating transcription of the mitochondrial rRNA gene. It binds to specific sequences in the mitochondrial DNA, ensuring accurate transcription termination, and plays a role in regulating mitochondrial RNA levels.
• MTERF2: MTERF2 is implicated in the regulation of mitochondrial DNA replication and the stabilization of mitochondrial DNA. It also interacts with components of the mitochondrial ribosome, linking transcription regulation to protein synthesis.
• MTERF3: MTERF3 acts as a negative regulator of mitochondrial transcription by inhibiting the transcription initiation complex. Dysregulation of MTERF3 is associated with altered mitochondrial biogenesis and has been linked to metabolic disorders and aging.

MTERF antibodies provide essential insights into the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression and its impact on cellular metabolism and disease. By detecting and studying MTERF proteins, researchers can better understand how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to various pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndromes, and cancer.