The VTI1A antibody is a tool used to detect Vesicle Transport Through Interaction with T-SNAREs 1A (VTI1A), a protein involved in intracellular vesicle trafficking. VTI1A is a member of the SNARE (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor Attachment protein REceptor) family, which mediates membrane fusion events critical for neurotransmitter release, organelle transport, and protein sorting. Specifically, VTI1A localizes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and endosomes, playing roles in retrograde transport and maintaining Golgi structure. It interacts with other SNAREs like Syntaxin 6 and Syntaxin 16 to form functional complexes.
Antibodies against VTI1A are widely used in neuroscience and cell biology research to study synaptic vesicle dynamics, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s), and cancer, where VTI1A dysregulation has been implicated. For example, VTI1A gene fusions are linked to certain cancers, driving interest in its pathological mechanisms.
These antibodies are typically developed in rabbits or mice using immunogenic peptide sequences from conserved regions of the human VTI1A protein. Validation methods include Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) to ensure specificity. Commercial VTI1A antibodies often cite applications in identifying protein expression patterns in brain tissues or cultured cells.
Research utilizing VTI1A antibodies has advanced understanding of vesicle trafficking defects in disease models, highlighting its potential as a biomarker or therapeutic target. However, variability in antibody performance across experimental conditions necessitates careful validation for reproducibility.