p73 has been identified as a long-lost cousin of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. It has high homology with both p53 and with p63, a gene implicated in the maintenance of epithelial stem cells. The presence of significant homology between the DNA-binding domains of p53, p63, and p73 suggest that they have overlapping functions. Targeted disruption of p73 leads to defects hippocampal dysgenesis, hydrocephalus, chronic inflammation, and infections. A German group used the p73 antibody in immunoprecipitation studies using directed expression of dominant-negative p73 to restore cell cycle progression in cardiomyocytes and improve cardiac regeneration1. Kravchenko’s group examined the ability of the small molecule RETRA to suppress mutant-bearing cancer cells using the p73 antibody2. Based on their studies, it appears that a mutant p53-73 complex is a very specific and promising cancer therapy target.
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Western Blot: p73 Antibody
An interesting genomics-based gene signature approach to characterizing connected signaling pathways to p73 used the p73 antibody to identify mTOR as a p73 regulator3. This new link allows researchers to better understand the interplay between autophagy and metabolic pathways. Rana et al employed the p73 antibody in their colon cancer experiments that targeted p53-lacking cells through the use of the chemotherapeutic securinine4. Researchers at Vanderbilt were able to use the p73 antibody to identify over 2000 genomic sites bound by p63 in human epidermal keratinocytes5. This comprehensive profile generated novel p63 target genes involved in paracrine signaling and epidermal differentiation, and several of these were subjected to further analysis in a three-dimensional organotypic co-culture.
Novus Biologicals offers p73 reagents for your research needs including:
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