The Werner syndrome protein (WRN), encoded by the *WRN* gene, is a member of the RecQ helicase family critical for maintaining genomic stability. Mutations in *WRN* cause Werner syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by premature aging, genomic instability, and increased cancer susceptibility. The WRN protein exhibits 3'→5' helicase and 3'→5' exonuclease activities, playing roles in DNA repair, replication, recombination, and telomere maintenance. It resolves DNA secondary structures, facilitates replication stress recovery, and interacts with key repair proteins like PARP1 and BRCA1.
WRN antibodies are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and molecular functions. They enable detection of WRN in immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, helping assess its role in aging-related pathways and cancer biology. Research shows WRN is a synthetic lethal target in microsatellite-unstable (MSI) cancers, where its inhibition selectively kills cancer cells. This has spurred interest in developing WRN-targeted therapies. Antibodies also aid in analyzing WRN deficiency phenotypes, such as replication fork stalling and chromosomal breaks. Commercially available WRN antibodies target specific epitopes, with validation in knockout controls ensuring specificity. Their applications extend to clinical research, including biomarker studies in Werner syndrome and cancer therapeutics development.