EZH2 (Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2) is a catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), which mediates epigenetic gene silencing through methylation of histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3K27me3). This post-translational modification represses transcription of target genes, playing critical roles in cell differentiation, proliferation, and stem cell maintenance. Dysregulated EZH2 expression or activity is implicated in various cancers, including lymphomas, breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Overexpression of EZH2 is often associated with aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognosis, as it silences tumor suppressor genes. Conversely, specific gain-of-function mutations in EZH2 drive aberrant H3K27 methylation in certain hematologic malignancies.
EZH2 antibodies are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and functional interactions in both normal and disease contexts. They are widely used in techniques like immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and immunofluorescence to assess EZH2 levels in tissues or cell lines. In clinical research, EZH2 antibodies help validate its role as a biomarker for cancer progression or therapeutic targeting. Recent drug development has focused on EZH2 inhibitors (e.g., tazemetostat) to counteract its oncogenic activity, particularly in cancers with PRC2 pathway alterations. However, EZH2's context-dependent roles—acting as either an oncogene or tumor suppressor—highlight the need for precise diagnostic tools, underscoring the importance of validated, high-specificity antibodies in both research and clinical applications.