The DOK4 (Downstream of Tyrosine Kinase 4) antibody is a tool used to study the DOK4 protein, a member of the DOK family of adaptor proteins involved in intracellular signaling. DOK proteins act as scaffolds, mediating interactions between receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and downstream effectors to regulate cellular processes like proliferation, differentiation, and survival. DOK4 contains conserved pleckstrin homology (PH) and phosphotyrosine-binding (PTB) domains, enabling its role in signal transduction pathways, including Ras/MAPK and PI3K/Akt.
DOK4 is expressed in various tissues, with notable roles in neuronal development, hematopoietic cell regulation, and organogenesis. Dysregulation of DOK4 has been implicated in diseases such as cancer, where it may act as a tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on context. For example, DOK4 downregulation is linked to certain solid tumors, while overexpression correlates with leukemia progression.
The DOK4 antibody is essential for detecting DOK4 expression, phosphorylation status, and localization via techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. It aids in exploring DOK4's interaction with RTKs (e.g., RET, EGFR) and its impact on signaling cascades. Research using this antibody contributes to understanding DOK4's dual roles in normal physiology and disease, offering potential insights into therapeutic targeting of signaling pathways in malignancies and developmental disorders.