The UBF1 (Upstream Binding Factor 1) antibody is a critical tool for studying the role of UBF1. a nucleolar transcription factor essential for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis. UBF1 binds to the upstream control element of rRNA gene promoters, facilitating the assembly of the RNA polymerase I (Pol I) pre-initiation complex and regulating ribosome biogenesis. It contains multiple HMG (high mobility group) box domains, enabling DNA bending and nucleolar chromatin remodeling. UBF1 is dynamically phosphorylated during the cell cycle, influencing its activity and interactions with other Pol I machinery components, such as SL1/TIF-IB.
Antibodies against UBF1 are widely used to investigate its expression, localization, and function in diverse biological contexts, including cancer (where dysregulated rRNA synthesis promotes tumor growth), developmental biology, and cellular stress responses. These antibodies enable techniques like Western blotting, immunofluorescence, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) to explore UBF1’s role in nucleolar organization, cell proliferation, and diseases linked to ribosomopathies.
Commercial UBF1 antibodies are typically raised against epitopes in conserved regions (e.g., the N-terminal HMG boxes) and validated for specificity in human, mouse, or rat samples. Researchers rely on these antibodies to dissect mechanisms underlying Pol I transcription and its therapeutic targeting in pathologies like cancer.