The EXOSC4 antibody is a tool used to detect the EXOSC4 protein, a critical component of the human exosome complex. The exosome, a multi-subunit machinery conserved across eukaryotes, plays a central role in RNA processing, surveillance, and degradation. EXOSC4 (Exosome Component 4), also known as RRP41. is one of the nine core subunits (EXOSC1-9) that form the catalytically active ring-shaped structure of the exosome. It contributes to the 3'→5' exonuclease activity essential for processing ribosomal RNA (rRNA), small nuclear RNA (snRNA), and degrading aberrant or non-coding RNAs.
EXOSC4 antibodies are widely used in research to study the expression, localization, and functional interactions of this protein in cellular contexts. They are employed in techniques like Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation to explore EXOSC4's role in RNA metabolism, genome stability, and disease pathways. Mutations or dysregulation of EXOSC4 have been linked to neurological disorders, such as pontocerebellar hypoplasia, and cancer progression, highlighting its biological significance.
These antibodies are typically validated for specificity using knockout cell lines or siRNA-mediated knockdown to ensure accurate detection. Commercial EXOSC4 antibodies may vary in host species (e.g., rabbit, mouse) and clonality (monoclonal/polyclonal). Researchers often use them to investigate how exosome dysfunction contributes to disease mechanisms or to map RNA quality control pathways in model systems.