The RCAN2 (Regulator of Calcineurin 2) antibody is a research tool designed to detect and study the RCAN2 protein, a member of the RCAN family involved in regulating intracellular signaling pathways. RCAN2. encoded by the RCAN2 gene located on human chromosome 6 (6p21.1), acts as a modulator of calcineurin, a calcium-dependent phosphatase critical for immune response, cardiac hypertrophy, and neuronal development. By binding to calcineurin, RCAN2 inhibits its activity, thereby influencing downstream targets like NFAT (Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cells) transcription factors. Dysregulation of RCAN2 has been implicated in pathological conditions, including Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer, where altered calcineurin signaling contributes to disease progression.
The RCAN2 antibody is widely used in techniques such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) to evaluate protein expression, localization, and post-translational modifications in various tissues and cell lines. Researchers employ it to explore RCAN2’s role in cellular processes like apoptosis, stress response, and mitochondrial function. Commercially available RCAN2 antibodies are typically raised in hosts like rabbits or mice, targeting specific epitopes within the protein’s conserved regions. Validation often includes knockout controls and cross-reactivity assessments to ensure specificity. Its application extends to both basic research and clinical studies, particularly in understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurodevelopmental disorders and malignancies linked to RCAN2 dysregulation.