The COPS7A antibody targets the COP9 signalosome subunit 7A (COPS7A), a key component of the COP9 signalosome (CSN), an evolutionarily conserved multi-protein complex involved in regulating ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation. The CSN complex, comprising eight subunits (CSN1–CSN8), interacts with cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) to modulate their activity via deneddylation, a process critical for maintaining protein homeostasis. COPS7A (also termed CSN7A) is one of two paralogs (CSN7A and CSN7B) in mammals, sharing structural homology but exhibiting distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. It plays a role in stabilizing the CSN complex and facilitating substrate recognition during proteasomal degradation.
COPS7A antibodies are widely used in research to investigate CSN assembly, CRL regulation, and cellular processes like DNA repair, cell cycle control, and stress responses. Dysregulation of COPS7A has been linked to cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and immune diseases, highlighting its therapeutic relevance. These antibodies enable detection of COPS7A expression levels via techniques such as Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry, aiding studies on protein turnover mechanisms and disease pathways. Validation typically includes knockout controls to ensure specificity for distinguishing between CSN7A and CSN7B isoforms.