Anti-MSH2 Antibodies

Anti-MSH2 antibodies are specific immunoglobulins developed to target and bind to the MSH2 protein, a key component of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. MSH2 (MutS Homolog 2) is crucial for maintaining genomic stability by recognizing and initiating the repair of base-base mismatches and insertion-deletion loops that occur during DNA replication. 

Content

MSH2 is a protein encoded by the MSH2 gene and is part of the MutS family of proteins, which are highly conserved across different species. In the MMR pathway, MSH2 forms a heterodimer with MSH6 (MutSα complex) or MSH3 (MutSβ complex) to detect and bind to mismatched bases and small insertion-deletion loops. This binding triggers a cascade of interactions that lead to the excision and correction of the DNA error. Loss or mutation of the MSH2 gene can lead to microsatellite instability (MSI), a hallmark of Lynch syndrome, and contributes to the development of various cancers, including colorectal, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. 

Applications

• Western Blotting: These antibodies are employed to detect and quantify MSH2 protein levels in cell lysates and tissue extracts. Western blot analysis helps researchers study the regulation of MSH2 expression and its involvement in DNA repair processes, providing insights into how MSH2 dysfunction contributes to carcinogenesis.
• Flow Cytometry: Anti-MSH2 antibodies can be used in flow cytometric assays to analyze MSH2 expression in cell populations. This is useful for studying the distribution of MMR activity in different cell types and for identifying MSH2-deficient cells in research related to cancer and genetic diseases.
• ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): Anti-MSH2 antibodies are also used in ELISA to quantitatively measure MSH2 protein levels in biological samples. This technique facilitates the assessment of MSH2 expression in large-scale studies and can be utilized for biomarker research.
• Cancer Research and Therapy: Defects in MSH2 are associated with increased susceptibility to various cancers due to impaired DNA repair, leading to higher mutation rates and genomic instability. Anti-MSH2 antibodies play a critical role in cancer research, enabling the study of MMR pathways, tumor progression, and the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting MMR-deficient cells.

Anti-MSH2 antibodies are indispensable in the field of molecular biology and oncology, providing tools to study DNA repair mechanisms, diagnose genetic predispositions to cancer, and understand the molecular basis of tumor development.