The SLC12A4 antibody is a research tool designed to detect the SLC12A4 protein, encoded by the SLC12A4 gene, which belongs to the solute carrier family 12 (SLC12) of cation-chloride cotransporters. SLC12A4. also known as KCC1 (K-Cl cotransporter 1), facilitates the electroneutral transport of potassium and chloride ions across cell membranes, playing a critical role in cellular ion homeostasis and volume regulation. This transmembrane protein is expressed in various tissues, including the kidney, brain, and red blood cells, where it contributes to chloride efflux, particularly under hypotonic conditions.
Antibodies targeting SLC12A4 are widely used in biomedical research to investigate its expression patterns, subcellular localization, and functional roles in physiological and pathological contexts. For example, studies have linked SLC12A4 to neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, due to its involvement in modulating neuronal chloride concentrations and GABAergic signaling. Additionally, dysregulation of SLC12A4 has been implicated in cancer progression, hypertension, and renal dysfunction.
These antibodies are typically validated in applications like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence, often using samples from cell lines, animal models, or human tissues. Researchers rely on SLC12A4 antibodies to explore its interaction with regulatory kinases (e.g., WNK kinases) and its response to osmotic stress or pharmacological modulators. Ensuring antibody specificity via knockout controls or peptide blocking is essential to avoid cross-reactivity with related transporters like KCC3 or KCC4. Overall, SLC12A4 antibodies are vital for advancing understanding of ion transport mechanisms and their disease associations.