Rab4A antibody is a crucial tool in cellular and molecular biology research, targeting the Rab4A protein—a small GTPase belonging to the Ras superfamily. Rab4A plays a pivotal role in regulating intracellular membrane trafficking, particularly in early endosomal sorting and recycling of endocytosed materials. It facilitates the rapid recycling of receptors (e.g., transferrin receptors) and signaling molecules back to the plasma membrane, influencing processes like cell signaling, nutrient uptake, and synaptic vesicle recycling in neurons.
Rab4A antibodies are widely used to study these mechanisms via techniques such as Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation. They help localize Rab4A within cellular compartments (e.g., endosomes) and assess its expression levels under varying conditions, such as during cell differentiation, stress, or disease states. Dysregulation of Rab4A has been linked to pathologies, including cancer metastasis, neurodegenerative disorders, and immune dysfunctions, making its antibody a valuable probe for mechanistic studies.
These antibodies are typically validated for specificity using knockout cell lines or siRNA knockdowns. Commercial variants may differ in clonality (monoclonal/polyclonal), host species (rabbit, mouse), or conjugation tags (e.g., HRP, fluorescent dyes). Researchers must optimize experimental conditions (e.g., fixation, permeabilization) to ensure accurate detection, as Rab4A’s dynamic localization and expression can vary across cell types.