Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a key enzyme in DNA synthesis, catalyzing the conversion of deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) to deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP), which is essential for cellular replication and repair. Due to its critical role in nucleotide metabolism, TS is a primary target for chemotherapeutic agents like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which inhibit its activity to disrupt cancer cell proliferation.
TS antibodies are immunodetection tools developed to study TS expression and localization in tissues or cell lines. These antibodies enable researchers to quantify TS levels via techniques such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting, or ELISA. Clinically, TS overexpression is linked to resistance to 5-FU-based therapies in cancers like colorectal, gastric, and breast cancer. Thus, TS antibodies are used to assess tumor TS levels, guiding personalized treatment decisions and predicting therapeutic response.
In research, TS antibodies help unravel the enzyme’s regulatory mechanisms, including post-translational modifications and interactions with other proteins. They also aid in exploring TS's role beyond cancer, such as in inflammatory diseases or microbial infections.
Commercially available TS antibodies are typically raised against specific epitopes of human TS protein, validated for specificity and sensitivity. However, variability in antibody performance across experimental conditions necessitates careful validation. Ongoing efforts focus on improving antibody reliability and developing novel applications, such as companion diagnostics for targeted therapies. Overall, TS antibodies remain vital for both basic research and clinical oncology.