The MSMO1 (methylsterol monooxygenase 1) antibody targets the MSMO1 protein, also known as SC4MOL or ERG28. a key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. MSMO1 catalyzes the conversion of 4α-methylsterols to 4α-carboxysterols, a critical step in the Bloch pathway of cholesterol synthesis. This enzyme localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and is regulated by sterol levels, functioning downstream of lanosterol synthase and upstream of sterol-C4-methyl oxidase (SC4MOL). Its role in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis links it to various physiological and pathological processes, including lipid metabolism disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers.
Antibodies against MSMO1 are widely used in research to study cholesterol biosynthesis regulation, protein expression profiling, and subcellular localization. They are essential tools in Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence to investigate MSMO1’s involvement in diseases like Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), a genetic disorder linked to cholesterol synthesis defects, or cancer progression where altered cholesterol metabolism is implicated. Additionally, MSMO1 antibodies aid in exploring therapeutic targets for hypercholesterolemia and tumors reliant on endogenous cholesterol synthesis. Validated antibodies are characterized for specificity, sensitivity, and cross-reactivity across species, supporting both basic and translational studies in lipid biology and related disorders.