Unc93a Antibody

Introduction to UNC93A Antibody

UNC93A antibodies are specialized immunological tools designed to detect and study the UNC93A protein, a putative solute carrier (SLC) belonging to the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) . These antibodies are critical for investigating UNC93A's roles in neuronal function, nutrient sensing, and cellular homeostasis . Multiple commercial variants exist, including monoclonal and polyclonal formulations validated for techniques such as Western blotting (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) .

Antibody Validation and Specificity

UNC93A antibodies undergo rigorous validation to ensure specificity:

Key Validation Metrics

• ab69443: Shows specificity via peptide-blocking experiments, reducing fluorescence intensity in mouse brain cortex (p < 0.0001) and cerebellum (p = 0.0379) .

• ab173552 (N-terminal): Detects bands at ~52 kDa and ~35 kDa in mouse brain homogenate but shows partial specificity .

Applications in Research

UNC93A antibodies enable diverse experimental workflows:

• Localization Studies: UNC93A is expressed in neurons of the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum, with staining near the plasma membrane .

• Nutrient Response Analysis: Unc93a mRNA levels decrease during amino acid deprivation (3–12 h) in embryonic cortex cells and starvation in adult mice .

• Functional Interactions: Co-localizes with SNAP25 (synaptic vesicle fusion) but not ER or Golgi markers .

Tissue Distribution

• Starvation Response: Unc93a mRNA decreases in hypothalamus, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb after 24 h fasting .

• Isoforms: Humans express three UNC93A isoforms; mice have one .

Research Implications

UNC93A antibodies have revealed:

• Neurological Roles: UNC93A regulates neuronal membrane potential and interacts with synaptic proteins like SNAP25 .

• Metabolic Sensing: Expression fluctuates with nutrient availability, linking it to energy homeostasis .

• Disease Associations: Altered UNC93A levels correlate with intestinal cancer and chromosome 6 disorders .