The MYH7 antibody targets the myosin heavy chain beta isoform encoded by the MYH7 gene, a critical component of sarcomeres in cardiac and slow skeletal muscle. MYH7 is a major contractile protein essential for muscle function, with mutations linked to inherited cardiomyopathies (e.g., hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy) and skeletal myopathies. Antibodies against MYH7 are widely used in research and diagnostics to study protein expression, localization, and pathological alterations in muscle tissues.
In cardiomyopathy research, MYH7 antibodies help detect abnormal protein aggregation, altered sarcomere structure, or expression changes caused by MYH7 mutations. These mutations often disrupt myosin ATPase activity, leading to impaired contractility and cardiac hypertrophy. Clinically, MYH7 antibodies aid in distinguishing cardiomyopathy subtypes and assessing disease progression.
Additionally, MYH7 antibodies are employed in studying skeletal muscle disorders, such as myosin storage myopathy, and in exploring gene regulation mechanisms under stress or disease. Their specificity enables visualization of MYH7 isoforms in immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, or immunofluorescence, supporting both basic research and biomarker discovery. Overall, MYH7 antibodies serve as vital tools for unraveling molecular mechanisms of muscle diseases and advancing precision diagnostics.