**Background of TERT Antibodies**
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the catalytic subunit of telomerase, an enzyme critical for maintaining telomere length and enabling cellular immortalization. TERT expression is typically restricted to germline and stem cells but is reactivated in ~90% of human cancers, contributing to unchecked proliferation and tumorigenesis. TERT antibodies are essential tools for detecting TERT protein expression, localization, and post-translational modifications in research and diagnostic settings.
These antibodies are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) to study TERT's role in cancer progression, aging, and telomere-related disorders. For example, TERT overexpression in cancers such as melanoma, glioblastoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma correlates with poor prognosis, making TERT a potential therapeutic target. Antibodies also aid in exploring TERT's non-canonical roles, including its interaction with signaling pathways like Wnt and NF-κB.
Challenges persist in ensuring antibody specificity due to TERT's low abundance in somatic cells and homology with other reverse transcriptases. Validation using TERT-knockout cell lines or siRNA controls is critical. Commercial TERT antibodies vary in performance across applications, necessitating careful selection. Despite these challenges, TERT antibodies remain indispensable for advancing research into cancer mechanisms, aging, and regenerative medicine.