The ID2 (Inhibitor of DNA Binding 2) antibody is a research tool targeting the ID2 protein, a member of the ID protein family (ID1-4). ID proteins are helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcriptional regulators that lack DNA-binding domains, enabling them to inhibit basic HLH (bHLH) transcription factors by forming non-functional heterodimers. This interaction modulates cellular processes like differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis.
ID2 is notably involved in development, stem cell maintenance, and oncogenesis. It promotes cell cycle progression by suppressing pRb tumor suppressor activity and is critical in neural, lymphoid, and vascular development. Dysregulation of ID2 is linked to cancers (e.g., breast, prostate, glioblastoma), where its overexpression often correlates with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis.
In research, ID2 antibodies are used to detect ID2 expression in tissues or cell lines via techniques like Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. These studies explore ID2's role in cancer biology, stem cell pluripotency, and tissue regeneration. Recent interest also focuses on its interplay with signaling pathways like TGF-β and BMP. While therapeutic targeting of ID2 remains experimental, its regulatory functions make it a potential biomarker or intervention point in malignancies and regenerative medicine.