BRCA Antibodies
BRCA antibodies target proteins encoded by the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are crucial in maintaining genomic stability through their role in DNA repair. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor proteins involved in homologous recombination (HR), a mechanism for the repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA. Mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 impair the repair process, leading to increased susceptibility to cancers, particularly breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA antibodies are critical for studying the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and cancer biology.
Application of BRCA Antibodies
- Western Blotting (WB): BRCA antibodies are frequently used in Western blotting to assess BRCA1 or BRCA2 protein expression in cell or tissue lysates. This is particularly important for studying the functional role of BRCA proteins in DNA repair pathways, as well as in the analysis of their dysregulation in cancer. Western blotting with BRCA antibodies can reveal differences in protein levels due to mutations or post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, which regulate BRCA activity.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC): In IHC, BRCA antibodies are used to detect BRCA protein expression and localization in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. This application is essential for cancer diagnostics, where the loss or abnormal localization of BRCA proteins can be indicative of tumor progression. IHC studies with BRCA antibodies are widely used in breast and ovarian cancer tissues to correlate BRCA status with disease prognosis and treatment response.
- Immunofluorescence (IF): BRCA antibodies are applied in immunofluorescence to visualize BRCA1 and BRCA2 localization within cells, particularly in response to DNA damage. BRCA proteins are recruited to sites of double-strand breaks, where they form nuclear foci as part of the DNA damage response. Immunofluorescence using BRCA antibodies provides insights into the dynamic changes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 subcellular localization during different phases of the cell cycle or in response to genotoxic stress.
Technical Specifications
- Clonality: Monoclonal or Polyclonal
- Isotype: IgG (species-specific variants)
- Species Reactivity: Human, Mouse, Rat, with potential cross-reactivity in other species
- Applications: WB, IHC, IF, FACS, ChIP, ELISA
- Phospho-Specific Variants: Available for detecting phosphorylated BRCA proteins (e.g., BRCA1 pSer1423)
- Storage Conditions: Typically stored at -20°C or -80°C to maintain antibody stability
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