The zinc finger protein 143 (ZNF143), also known as STAF, is a transcription factor characterized by its DNA-binding C2H2-type zinc finger domains. It plays a critical role in regulating gene expression by binding to specific promoter or enhancer regions, often interacting with other transcriptional machinery to modulate RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription. ZNF143 is involved in diverse cellular processes, including cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Studies have linked it to the activation of both coding and non-coding RNAs, as well as the maintenance of chromatin architecture through long-range DNA interactions. Dysregulation of ZNF143 has been implicated in cancers, developmental disorders, and neurological conditions, underscoring its biological significance.
Antibodies targeting ZNF143 are essential tools for investigating its expression, localization, and molecular interactions. These antibodies are widely used in techniques such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and immunofluorescence to study ZNF143's role in transcriptional networks and disease mechanisms. Many commercially available ZNF143 antibodies are raised against epitopes within its N-terminal transactivation domain or C-terminal zinc finger regions. Their specificity is often validated using knockdown/knockout cell lines or competitive peptide-blocking assays. As research on ZNF143 expands, particularly in epigenetics and 3D genome organization, reliable antibodies remain crucial for elucidating its context-dependent functions and therapeutic potential.