The p73 antibody is a crucial tool in studying the p73 protein, a member of the p53 tumor suppressor family. Discovered in 1997. p73 shares structural and functional similarities with p53. including roles in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. However, unlike p53. p73 is rarely mutated in cancers. Instead, it exhibits complex regulation through alternative promoter usage and splicing, generating isoforms with opposing functions: transcriptionally active full-length variants (TAp73) promote apoptosis and cell differentiation, while N-terminally truncated isoforms (ΔNp73) act as oncogenes by dominant-negatively inhibiting TAp73 and p53.
p73 antibodies are designed to detect specific isoforms or epitopes, enabling researchers to dissect their distinct roles in development, aging, and diseases. These antibodies are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence to study p73 expression patterns in tissues and cellular compartments. Their applications span cancer research (e.g., tumor progression, chemoresistance), neurodevelopment studies, and investigations of p73's non-oncogenic roles in immunity and sensory systems.
Challenges in p73 antibody development include high homology with family member p63 and isoform-specific detection. Recent advances in monoclonal antibody technology have improved specificity, aiding the characterization of p73's dual roles in tumor suppression and oncogenesis. Validated p73 antibodies remain critical for exploring its therapeutic potential and as a biomarker in cancer prognosis.