The SLC16A4 antibody targets the solute carrier family 16 member 4 (SLC16A4), a protein encoded by the *SLC16A4* gene in humans. This gene belongs to the SLC16A family of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), which facilitate the movement of small molecules like lactate, pyruvate, and ketone bodies across cell membranes. SLC16A4. also termed MCT5. is a transmembrane protein implicated in metabolic regulation, particularly in tissues with high energy demands, such as the liver, kidneys, and immune cells. Its role in lactate transport links it to cellular pH balance, energy metabolism, and intercellular signaling.
Antibodies against SLC16A4 are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and function in both physiological and pathological contexts. Researchers use these antibodies in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence to investigate SLC16A4's involvement in diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions. For example, altered SLC16A4 expression has been observed in tumor microenvironments, where lactate shuttling influences immune cell activity and cancer progression.
Commercial SLC16A4 antibodies are typically developed in host species like rabbits or mice, validated for specificity using knockout controls or siRNA knockdown. Understanding SLC16A4's mechanisms through antibody-based research could unveil therapeutic targets for modulating metabolic pathways or immune responses in disease treatment.