**Background of TUFM Antibody**
The mitochondrial translation elongation factor Tu (TUFM) is a key protein involved in mitochondrial protein synthesis, functioning as a GTPase that facilitates the elongation phase of translation by delivering aminoacyl-tRNAs to the ribosome. Encoded by nuclear DNA, TUFM is essential for the expression of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded components of the electron transport chain (ETC), critical for oxidative phosphorylation and cellular energy production.
TUFM antibodies are immunological tools used to detect and quantify TUFM expression in research contexts, such as studying mitochondrial dysfunction linked to diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease), and metabolic syndromes. Dysregulation of TUFM has been implicated in tumor progression, apoptosis resistance, and impaired immune responses, as it interacts with pathways like the RIG-I/MAVS antiviral signaling cascade.
These antibodies are widely applied in techniques like Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry to assess TUFM localization (mitochondrial-specific) and expression levels. Their specificity is validated using knockout controls or siRNA-mediated knockdown to ensure accurate detection. Commercially available as monoclonal or polyclonal versions, TUFM antibodies are vital for elucidating mitochondrial biology, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic targeting of mitochondrial disorders.