The ASF1B (Anti-silencing Function 1B) antibody is a tool used to study the ASF1B protein, a histone chaperone critical for chromatin assembly and disassembly during DNA replication and repair. ASF1B, a paralog of ASF1A, is highly expressed in proliferating tissues and cancer cells, where it interacts with histones H3 and H4 to facilitate nucleosome deposition. It plays a key role in cell cycle progression, particularly during S and G2/M phases, by coordinating chromatin dynamics with replication and mitotic processes. Dysregulation of ASF1B is linked to genomic instability and tumorigenesis, making it a potential biomarker or therapeutic target in cancers like breast, lung, and colorectal.
ASF1B antibodies are widely employed in techniques such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence to detect protein expression, localization, and interactions. Researchers use these antibodies to investigate ASF1B's involvement in replication-coupled chromatin assembly, epigenetic regulation, and its crosstalk with pathways like the ATR/Chk1 DNA damage response. Commercial ASF1B antibodies are typically validated for specificity and reactivity across human and model organisms. Studies highlighting its overexpression in malignancies and association with poor prognosis underscore its relevance in both basic research and clinical applications.