The RENT1/hUPF1 antibody targets the human UPF1 protein, a central component of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway. UPF1 (Up-frameshift 1), also known as RENT1 or regulator of nonsense transcripts 1. is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase critical for recognizing and degrading mRNAs containing premature termination codons (PTCs). This quality control mechanism prevents the production of truncated, potentially harmful proteins. UPF1 interacts with other NMD factors, including UPF2 and UPF3. and is recruited to mRNA surveillance complexes via exon junction complexes (EJCs) deposited during splicing. Its helicase activity facilitates mRNA remodeling, leading to decapping, deadenylation, and exonucleolytic degradation of faulty transcripts.
Antibodies against UPF1 are widely used in research to study NMD mechanisms, gene expression regulation, and diseases linked to aberrant mRNA surveillance, such as cancer and genetic disorders. These antibodies enable detection of UPF1 in techniques like Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation. Studies also explore UPF1's roles beyond NMD, including in stress granule formation, viral replication, and DNA repair. Phosphorylation of UPF1 (e.g., at Ser1096 and Ser1176) modulates its activity, and specific antibodies can distinguish phosphorylation states, aiding functional studies. As UPF1 is evolutionarily conserved, findings in human systems often align with models like yeast and C. elegans, underscoring its fundamental biological significance.