UNC5A antibody targets the UNC5A protein, a member of the UNC-5 family of netrin receptors that play critical roles in axon guidance, cell migration, and apoptosis. UNC5A (Uncoordinated-5A) functions as a dependence receptor, binding to netrin-1 to mediate chemotropic responses. In the absence of netrin-1. UNC5A promotes apoptosis by interacting with death-signaling pathways, while netrin-1 binding inhibits this pro-apoptotic activity. It is structurally characterized by extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig)-like and thrombospondin type-1 (TSP1) domains, which facilitate ligand interaction and receptor multimerization, and a cytoplasmic death domain essential for downstream signaling.
UNC5A antibodies are widely used in research to study neural development, cancer biology, and angiogenesis. In cancer, UNC5A acts as a tumor suppressor, with its expression often downregulated in colorectal, breast, and lung cancers via promoter hypermethylation. Antibodies against UNC5A enable detection of its expression patterns via techniques like Western blot, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF), aiding in understanding its role in tumor suppression, metastasis, and chemoresistance.
These antibodies also help explore UNC5A's involvement in neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, where disrupted netrin signaling may contribute to neurodegeneration. Validation of UNC5A antibodies includes specificity checks using knockout cell lines or tissues. Ongoing research focuses on UNC5A's dual roles in cell survival/death and its potential as a therapeutic target, emphasizing the antibody's utility in both basic and translational studies.