RANBP3 (RAN-binding protein 3) is a nuclear transport factor that plays a critical role in nucleocytoplasmic trafficking, cell cycle regulation, and transcriptional modulation. As a member of the RAN-binding protein family, it interacts with RAN-GTP, a small GTPase central to nuclear import/export processes. RANBP3 acts as a cofactor for CRM1 (Exportin-1), facilitating the export of proteins containing nuclear export signals (NESs) by stabilizing CRM1-RAN-GTP complexes. It also participates in mitotic progression by regulating the localization of key mitotic regulators.
Antibodies targeting RANBP3 are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and functional interactions. These antibodies are widely used in techniques such as Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence to investigate RANBP3's role in cellular processes like cancer progression (where it may act as a tumor suppressor), viral infection mechanisms, and neurodegenerative diseases. Specific RANBP3 antibodies often recognize conserved epitopes across species, enabling cross-species studies. Some antibodies distinguish between isoforms (e.g., RANBP3-L and RANBP3-S) or post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation states linked to cell cycle-dependent functions. Commercial antibodies are typically validated for specificity using knockout cell lines or siRNA knockdown controls. Researchers frequently employ them in combination with other nuclear transport markers (e.g., importin-β, Nup62) to dissect spatiotemporal regulation of nucleocytoplasmic transport pathways.