The HOXC4 antibody is a tool used to detect and study the HOXC4 protein, a member of the homeobox (HOX) gene family. HOX genes encode transcription factors critical for regulating body axis patterning, cell differentiation, and organogenesis during embryonic development. Specifically, HOXC4 is part of the HOXC cluster located on chromosome 12 and is involved in anterior-posterior axis specification. It plays roles in hematopoietic, neural, and urogenital system development, as well as cellular proliferation and differentiation. Dysregulation of HOXC4 has been linked to cancers, including leukemia and breast cancer, where its aberrant expression may drive tumor progression or metastasis.
HOXC4 antibodies are widely used in research to investigate protein expression, localization, and function in both normal and diseased tissues. They enable techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) to visualize HOXC4 in cells or tissue sections. Additionally, these antibodies support chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays to study HOXC4’s DNA-binding activity and regulatory targets. Commercially available HOXC4 antibodies are typically validated for specificity, often targeting conserved regions of the protein, such as the homeodomain. Researchers use them to explore HOXC4’s role in developmental pathways, its interaction with signaling molecules, and its potential as a biomarker or therapeutic target in malignancies. Proper controls, such as knockout cell lines, are essential to confirm antibody specificity in experimental setups.