The XPD antibody targets the XPD protein, a critical helicase encoded by the ERCC2 gene. XPD is a component of the TFIIH complex, which plays dual roles in transcription initiation and nucleotide excision repair (NER), a DNA repair pathway that corrects bulky DNA lesions caused by UV radiation or chemical agents. Structurally, XPD utilizes ATP hydrolysis to unwind DNA, facilitating damage recognition and excision during NER. Mutations in ERCC2/XPD are linked to genetic disorders such as xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne syndrome (CS), and trichothiodystrophy (TTD), characterized by photosensitivity, neurological defects, and/or premature aging due to defective DNA repair.
XPD antibodies are vital tools in molecular research, enabling the study of TFIIH complex assembly, DNA repair mechanisms, and transcription regulation. They are used in techniques like Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to assess XPD expression, localization, and interactions. Dysregulation of XPD is also implicated in cancer, as impaired NER may drive mutagenesis, while overexpression in tumors could confer resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. Researchers employ XPD antibodies to explore these mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and evaluate therapeutic strategies targeting DNA repair pathways. Thus, XPD antibodies serve as essential reagents for unraveling genomic stability mechanisms and their implications in disease.