The MYLK2 antibody is a research tool targeting myosin light chain kinase 2 (MYLK2), a calcium/calmodulin-dependent enzyme encoded by the MYLK2 gene located on human chromosome 20q13.12. MYLK2 belongs to the myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) family, which regulates muscle contraction by phosphorylating myosin regulatory light chains (MLC), enhancing myosin ATPase activity and enabling actin-myosin interaction. Unlike MYLK1 (smooth muscle-specific), MYLK2 is predominantly expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscles, playing a critical role in modulating contractile force and calcium sensitivity.
Antibodies against MYLK2 are widely used to study its expression, localization, and function in physiological and pathological contexts. They enable detection via techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Research highlights MYLK2's involvement in maintaining cardiac output and skeletal muscle performance. Dysregulation of MYLK2 has been linked to cardiomyopathies, muscular dystrophies, and other myopathies, though its precise pathological mechanisms remain under investigation.
Recent studies also explore MYLK2's potential role in non-muscle cells, suggesting broader implications in cell motility, cytoskeletal organization, and tumor metastasis. Commercial MYLK2 antibodies are typically validated for specificity across species (human, mouse, rat) and require careful optimization for experimental conditions. As interest grows in MYLK2 as a therapeutic target for muscle disorders, its antibodies remain vital for unraveling molecular pathways and advancing translational research.