Cenexin1. also known as ODF2 (outer dense fiber protein 2), is a structural protein predominantly associated with the formation of the sperm tail’s outer dense fibers and cilia/flagella in eukaryotic cells. The ODF2 gene encodes multiple splice variants, with Cenexin1 representing a longer isoform containing unique C-terminal extensions rich in phosphorylation sites. These extensions enable Cenexin1 to interact with microtubule-associated proteins, centrosomal components, and other cytoskeletal elements, playing critical roles in stabilizing flagellar architecture, centriole maturation, and ciliogenesis.
Antibodies targeting Cenexin1/ODF2 are essential tools for studying its localization, expression, and function in cellular processes. They are widely used in reproductive biology to investigate sperm development defects linked to male infertility, as disrupted ODF2 expression impairs sperm motility and structural integrity. In somatic cells, these antibodies help explore Cenexin1’s involvement in primary cilia assembly, cell cycle regulation, and diseases like ciliopathies (e.g., polycystic kidney disease, retinal degeneration). Common applications include immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, often utilizing tissues or cells with high Cenexin1 expression, such as testes, ciliated epithelia, or cultured cell models. Research using these antibodies has advanced understanding of how Cenexin1 coordinates structural and signaling roles at centrosomes, ciliary basal bodies, and during spermiogenesis.