TNNC2 (Troponin C2. Fast Skeletal Type) is a calcium-binding protein component of the troponin complex, which regulates skeletal muscle contraction. Expressed predominantly in fast-twitch muscle fibers, TNNC2 plays a critical role in calcium-dependent conformational changes that enable muscle contraction by interacting with troponin I and T. Antibodies targeting TNNC2 are essential tools for studying skeletal muscle physiology, pathology, and diseases such as muscular dystrophies, myopathies, or conditions linked to impaired calcium signaling.
These antibodies are widely used in research applications, including Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence, to assess TNNC2 expression, localization, and post-translational modifications. Commercially available TNNC2 antibodies are typically raised in hosts like rabbits or mice, using recombinant protein fragments or synthetic peptides as immunogens. Specificity validation via knockout controls or siRNA knockdown is crucial due to potential cross-reactivity with other troponin isoforms (e.g., cardiac TNNC1).
In clinical contexts, TNNC2 antibodies may aid in diagnosing muscle-specific disorders or differentiating skeletal muscle damage from cardiac injury, as cardiac troponin isoforms (e.g., cTnT/I) are distinct. Recent studies also explore TNNC2's role in cancers with skeletal muscle differentiation, such as rhabdomyosarcoma. Despite their utility, batch variability and epitope masking in fixed tissues remain challenges, necessitating careful experimental optimization.