HTT Antibodies

HTT antibodies are specific to the Huntingtin (HTT) protein, which is encoded by the HTT gene. Huntingtin is a large protein with multiple cellular roles, including involvement in vesicle trafficking, cytoskeletal anchoring, and cellular signaling. Mutations in the HTT gene, particularly the expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats, lead to the production of an abnormal, polyglutamine-expanded HTT protein, which is responsible for Huntington's disease (HD). 

Content

The normal HTT protein is crucial for several cellular processes, such as intracellular transport, endocytosis, and transcriptional regulation. In Huntington's disease, the mutant HTT protein, characterized by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) region, undergoes misfolding and aggregation, forming toxic inclusions in neurons. This leads to cellular dysfunction and progressive neurodegeneration, primarily affecting motor and cognitive functions.

Application

HTT antibodies are utilized in a range of research applications, including:

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Employed to localize HTT in brain tissue sections, providing insights into its distribution in different regions of the brain. IHC is particularly useful for identifying the presence of HTT aggregates in affected neurons of HD patients, helping to map disease progression.
• Immunofluorescence (IF): Allows for detailed visualization of HTT at the cellular level, helping researchers study its localization, interaction with other cellular structures, and aggregation behavior under various experimental conditions, including disease models.
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): Utilized for the quantification of HTT levels in biological samples such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, aiding in biomarker research for HD diagnosis and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.
• Immunoprecipitation (IP): Applied to isolate HTT from complex protein mixtures, facilitating the study of its interactions with other proteins, which is crucial for understanding its normal cellular functions and the impact of mutations.

HTT antibodies are essential for advancing the understanding of Huntington's disease. They enable researchers to investigate the structural and functional changes in HTT due to polyQ expansion, elucidate the mechanisms of protein aggregation and toxicity, and develop potential therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating HTT expression, aggregation, or clearance.