The ZIC2 antibody is a tool used to detect the ZIC2 protein, a member of the ZIC family of zinc finger transcription factors. ZIC2 (Zinc Finger Protein of the Cerebellum 2) plays critical roles in embryonic development, particularly in neural tube closure, left-right patterning, and central nervous system (CNS) formation. It regulates gene expression by binding to DNA through its C2H2-type zinc finger domains. Dysregulation of ZIC2 is linked to congenital disorders like holoprosencephaly (HPE), a brain malformation, and neurodevelopmental conditions such as schizophrenia.
In research, ZIC2 antibodies are widely employed in techniques like immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting, and immunofluorescence to study protein expression, localization, and function in developmental models, stem cell differentiation, and cancer biology. ZIC2 is also implicated in certain cancers, including medulloblastoma and ovarian cancer, where its aberrant expression may drive tumor progression.
These antibodies are typically validated for specificity and sensitivity across species (e.g., human, mouse), with applications in both basic and translational studies. Commercially available ZIC2 antibodies include monoclonal and polyclonal variants, often targeting epitopes within conserved functional domains. Proper controls, such as knockout validation, are essential to ensure accurate interpretation in experimental settings.