**Background of GATM Antibody**
GATM (Glycine Amidino Transferase), also known as AGAT, is a mitochondrial enzyme critical for creatine biosynthesis. It catalyzes the first step in creatine production by transferring an amidino group from arginine to glycine, forming guanidinoacetate. Creatine is essential for cellular energy homeostasis, particularly in tissues with high energy demands, such as skeletal muscle, brain, and heart.
GATM antibodies are immunological tools used to detect and quantify GATM protein expression in research. These antibodies aid in studying GATM's role in metabolic disorders, including creatine deficiency syndromes, which are linked to neurological impairments, developmental delays, and muscle weakness. Mutations in the *GATM* gene can cause autosomal recessive disorders, highlighting its clinical relevance.
Additionally, GATM has been implicated in broader pathophysiological contexts. Recent studies explore its potential involvement in mitochondrial dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer metabolism. For example, altered GATM expression may influence tumor progression by modulating energy pathways.
As a research reagent, GATM antibodies are validated for techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Specificity and sensitivity are crucial, given the enzyme's mitochondrial localization and structural homology with other transferases.
Overall, GATM antibodies serve as vital tools for unraveling the enzyme's biological functions, its association with diseases, and its potential as a therapeutic target or biomarker in metabolic and neurodegenerative conditions.