MTERF2 Antibody

Definition and Types of MTERF2 Antibodies

MTERF2 antibodies are immunological reagents targeting the human mitochondrial transcription termination factor 2, a 39 kDa protein localized in the mitochondrial matrix . Two primary classes exist:

Monoclonal antibodies (e.g., those developed by immunizing BALB/c mice with His-tagged MTERF2 ) offer high specificity, while polyclonal variants (e.g., STJ195244, HPA003526 ) provide broader epitope recognition.

Key Research Applications

MTERF2 antibodies have been instrumental in:

• Protein Localization: Confirming mitochondrial matrix localization via immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation .

• Expression Analysis: Detecting serum-induced downregulation in glioma cells (e.g., 60% reduction in U251 cells after serum exposure ).

• OXPHOS Studies: Identifying OXPHOS defects in MTERF2 knockout mice, including:

  • 60% reduction in skeletal muscle ATP levels

  • 50% decrease in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity

• Mitochondrial Proliferation: Quantifying citrate synthase activity increases (up to 4.5-fold in ketogenic diet-fed mice ).

Monoclonal Antibodies

• Sensitivity: Detected recombinant MTERF2 at 1:1,000 dilution in immunoblotting .

• Specificity: No cross-reactivity with other MTERF family members (e.g., MTERF1, MTERF3) .

Polyclonal Antibodies

Both antibodies show reactivity across human, mouse, and rat samples .

Notable Research Findings

• Transcriptional Regulation: MTERF2 binds mtDNA promoter regions and interacts with mTERF3 to fine-tune transcription .

• Metabolic Stress Response: In ketogenic diet-fed MTERF2 knockout mice:

  • OXPHOS complex levels dropped to 40–60% of controls .

  • mtDNA copy number increased 4.5-fold in skeletal muscle .

• Therapeutic Insights: MTERF2 depletion upregulates mTERF3 (5-fold) and TFB2 (3-fold), suggesting compensatory mechanisms .

Technical Considerations

• Storage: Most antibodies require storage at -20°C with avoidance of freeze-thaw cycles .

• Controls: Recombinant MTERF2 protein or MTERF2 knockout tissue lysates are recommended for assay validation .