MYOC Antibodies

MYOC antibodies are specific reagents used to detect and study myocilin in various tissues, particularly in the eye. These antibodies are crucial in research focused on eye diseases, such as glaucoma, and help in understanding how MYOC mutations contribute to disease mechanisms. MYOC antibodies are available in both monoclonal and polyclonal forms and can be used for various experimental applications.

Applications of MYOC Antibodies

• Western Blotting (WB): MYOC antibodies are commonly used in Western blot assays to detect myocilin expression in ocular tissues, such as the trabecular meshwork or retinal extracts. This application is valuable for studying changes in myocilin levels under normal conditions and in response to disease, particularly in models of glaucoma.
• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): MYOC antibodies are utilized in IHC to localize myocilin within ocular tissue sections. This technique is especially important for visualizing myocilin distribution in the trabecular meshwork and ciliary body, as well as for studying its role in eye tissue homeostasis and disease pathology in glaucoma.
• Immunoprecipitation (IP): MYOC antibodies can be used in immunoprecipitation experiments to isolate myocilin protein complexes from cell extracts. This is useful for studying myocilin interactions with other extracellular matrix proteins or for investigating how MYOC mutations affect protein folding and function.
• Immunofluorescence (IF): In immunofluorescence assays, MYOC antibodies allow the visualization of myocilin within cells and tissues, especially in the trabecular meshwork. This application is useful for studying the subcellular localization of myocilin and how its localization changes in disease states, such as glaucoma.

Key Mutations in MYOC and Their Clinical Relevance

• Gln368Ter Mutation: This mutation in the MYOC gene results in a truncated form of myocilin and is one of the most commonly associated mutations with POAG. Patients with this mutation are at higher risk of developing elevated IOP and subsequent optic nerve damage.
• Other MYOC Mutations: More than 90 mutations in MYOC have been identified, with varying degrees of impact on myocilin function and the risk of developing glaucoma. MYOC antibodies are useful in studying how different mutations affect the stability, folding, and secretion of the myocilin protein in trabecular meshwork cells.

MYOC antibodies are crucial for studying the role of myocilin in eye health and disease, particularly in the context of glaucoma. These antibodies enable researchers to detect, quantify, and localize myocilin in various tissues, providing valuable insights into how MYOC mutations contribute to glaucoma development and progression.