The MonoMethyl-Histone H3 (Lys18) antibody is a specialized tool used to detect monomethylation at lysine 18 on histone H3 (H3K18me1), a post-translational modification involved in chromatin regulation and gene expression. Histone H3 is a core component of nucleosomes, and its tail modifications, including methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation, play critical roles in epigenetic signaling. Methylation at Lys18 is catalyzed by histone methyltransferases such as SUV420H1/2 and is associated with both transcriptional activation and repression, depending on the cellular context and interacting partners.
H3K18me1 has been implicated in DNA damage response, cell cycle regulation, and maintaining genomic stability. Studies suggest its role in recruiting repair proteins to sites of DNA damage and influencing heterochromatin formation. Dysregulation of H3K18 methylation is linked to cancer progression, developmental disorders, and aging, making it a biomarker of interest in disease research.
This antibody is widely used in techniques like chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), Western blotting, and immunofluorescence to map epigenetic changes, study chromatin dynamics, or investigate disease mechanisms. Specificity is validated through knockout models or peptide competition assays to ensure recognition of the monomethylated Lys18 epitope. Researchers utilize it to explore how H3K18me1 interacts with other histone marks or environmental cues to regulate cellular processes, offering insights into epigenetic therapies and diagnostic strategies.