UBA2 Antibody

Definition and Biological Context

UBA2 (UniProt: Q9UBT2) forms a heterodimer with SAE1 to function as a SUMO-activating enzyme (E1 ligase). It facilitates ATP-dependent activation of SUMO proteins (SUMO1, SUMO2, SUMO3) and their covalent attachment to target proteins, influencing transcriptional regulation, cell cycle control, and stress responses . The UBA2 antibody specifically binds to this enzyme, allowing its detection in experimental models.

Applications in Research

UBA2 antibodies are widely used in:

• Western Blotting (WB): Detects endogenous UBA2 at ~90 kDa .

• Immunoprecipitation (IP): Isolates UBA2-protein complexes for interaction studies .

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Localizes UBA2 in tissues, revealing nuclear and cytoplasmic distribution .

• Functional Studies: Evaluates UBA2's role in cancer progression and developmental disorders .

Table 1: UBA2 Antibody Performance Across Studies

Functional Insights

• Cancer Research:

  • UBA2 knockdown inhibits proliferation in renal, gastric, and colorectal cancers by disrupting SUMOylation-dependent pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, p53) .

  • High UBA2 expression correlates with advanced tumor stage, poor prognosis, and resistance to therapy .

• Developmental Disorders:

  • Loss-of-function UBA2 variants cause microcephaly, ectrodactyly, and neurodevelopmental anomalies, as shown in zebrafish models .

Clinical and Mechanistic Relevance

• Diagnostic Potential: UBA2 expression distinguishes glioma from normal brain tissue (AUC = 0.867) .

• Therapeutic Targeting: Silencing UBA2 sensitizes cancer cells to irradiation and chemotherapy .

• Pathway Regulation: Modulates EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) and apoptosis via cyclin B1, p21, and Bcl-2 .