GRHL1 antibodies are polyclonal or monoclonal reagents that target the GRHL1 protein, a member of the evolutionarily conserved grainyhead-like transcription factor family. These antibodies are widely used in molecular biology to investigate GRHL1's role in cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. They enable detection across techniques like Western blot (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) .
GRHL1 antibodies have been instrumental in uncovering the protein’s dual role as an oncogene or tumor suppressor, depending on cancer type:
In NSCLC, GRHL1 antibodies validated its upregulation in 96% of tumors compared to adjacent tissues, with high expression linked to poor patient survival (HR = 1.7, p < 0.05) . Conversely, in ESCC, GRHL1 knockdown increased proliferation and clone formation, highlighting its tumor-suppressive role .
GRHL1 regulates critical pathways in cancer biology:
Cell Cycle Regulation: In NSCLC, GRHL1 binds promoters of G2/M-phase genes (e.g., CDC27, RAD21), driving proliferation. Knockdown arrested cells at G2/M (p < 0.01) .
EGFR-ERK Signaling: GRHL1 activation by EGFR-ERK phosphorylation (Ser76) promotes nuclear translocation, enhancing target gene transcription .
Epigenetic Modulation: In neuroblastoma, GRHL1 suppression by HDAC3/MYCN reduces tumor growth inhibition .
GRHL1 antibodies are pivotal for:
Prognostic Biomarker Development: High GRHL1 in NSCLC and low levels in ESCC correlate with survival, aiding risk stratification .
Therapeutic Targeting: Inhibiting GRHL1 in NSCLC or restoring it in ESCC could offer novel treatment strategies.
Mechanistic Studies: Antibodies enable ChIP-seq and luciferase assays to map GRHL1-DNA interactions and transcriptional activity .
Current challenges include:
GRHL1 belongs to the grainyhead family of transcription factors that interact with sister of mammalian grainyhead (SOM) proteins. It functions as a transcription factor primarily involved in embryonic development, with two distinct transcript variants encoding different isoforms . Recent research demonstrates that GRHL1 plays significant roles in cell cycle regulation through transcriptional control of genes like CDC27, RAD21, CDC7, and ANAPC13, which are crucial for G2/M phase progression .
Anti-GRHL1 rabbit polyclonal antibodies can be utilized in multiple detection methods including:
ELISA at a dilution of 1:62500
Western blot at 1 μg/mL concentration (with HRP-conjugated secondary antibody at 1:50,000-100,000 dilution)
The antibody is typically purified by peptide affinity chromatography and supplied in lyophilized form in PBS buffer with 2% sucrose at a final concentration of 1 mg/mL .
For optimal preservation of antibody activity, GRHL1 antibodies should be:
Reconstituted with 50 μL of distilled water if supplied lyophilized
Aliquoted to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles
Stored at -20°C or below
Handled with care to maintain the 1 mg/mL final concentration
When investigating GRHL1's involvement in cell cycle regulation, researchers should implement a multi-faceted approach:
Gene expression modulation:
Overexpression of GRHL1 using appropriate vectors
Knockdown using GRHL1-specific siRNAs
Functional assays:
Molecular analysis:
When conducting ChIP experiments to identify GRHL1 binding sites:
Input controls: Reserve a portion of pre-immunoprecipitated chromatin to normalize for differences in starting material
Negative controls:
IgG control immunoprecipitation
Non-target genomic regions without predicted GRHL1 binding sites
Positive controls: Known GRHL1 binding regions (e.g., promoters of CDC27, RAD21, CDC7, ANAPC13)
Validation controls:
GRHL1 shows context-dependent expression patterns across different cancer types:
This heterogeneity suggests tissue-specific functions and regulatory mechanisms that require targeted investigation in each cancer context .
GRHL1 appears to play a significant role in tumor immunology, particularly in endometrial cancer where:
Researchers investigating tumor immunology should consider GRHL1 as a potential regulator of the immune microenvironment.
To study the upstream regulation of GRHL1, researchers should consider:
Signal transduction analysis:
Experimental approaches:
Technical considerations:
Use phospho-specific antibodies when available
Consider mass spectrometry to identify novel phosphorylation sites
Implement both in vitro kinase assays and cellular models
For comprehensive analysis of GRHL1's transcriptional effects:
Genome-wide binding profile:
Transcriptional impact:
Mechanistic validation:
When performing immunohistochemistry with GRHL1 antibodies, researchers may encounter several challenges:
Antigen retrieval optimization:
Staining optimization:
Scoring considerations:
When encountering contradictory data about GRHL1's function:
Context-specific analysis:
Signaling context:
Evaluate status of upstream regulators (e.g., EGFR-ERK pathway)
Assess expression of known GRHL1 target genes
Consider potential compensatory mechanisms from other grainyhead family members
Experimental validation:
Implement both gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches
Validate findings in multiple cell lines representing the same cancer type
When possible, confirm in patient-derived models