**Background of HK1 Antibody**
The HK1 antibody targets hexokinase 1 (HK1), a key enzyme in glycolysis that catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. As one of four hexokinase isoforms, HK1 is ubiquitously expressed, with high levels in the brain, erythrocytes, and other metabolically active tissues. It is anchored to the outer mitochondrial membrane via an N-terminal hydrophobic domain, enabling its interaction with mitochondrial proteins to regulate energy metabolism and apoptosis.
HK1 plays a critical role in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis and is implicated in pathologies such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic syndromes. Overexpression of HK1 is observed in many cancers, where it supports the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis) to fuel tumor growth. Conversely, HK1 dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s due to disrupted neuronal energy supply.
The HK1 antibody is widely used in research to study protein expression, localization, and molecular mechanisms in disease models. It is validated in applications like Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence, often with species specificity (e.g., human, mouse, rat). Commercial HK1 antibodies are typically generated using immunogenic peptides from conserved regions of the HK1 protein, with validation via knockout controls or siRNA silencing.
Overall, the HK1 antibody serves as a vital tool for exploring metabolic regulation, disease pathways, and therapeutic targeting in cancer and neurodegeneration.