The U2AF2 antibody targets the U2 small nuclear RNA auxiliary factor 2 (U2AF2), a critical component of the spliceosome machinery responsible for pre-mRNA splicing. U2AF2. also known as U2AF65. binds to the poly-pyrimidine tract near the 3' splice site of introns, working in tandem with U2AF1 (U2AF35) to recruit the U2 snRNP and ensure accurate recognition of splice sites. This protein is essential for constitutive and alternative splicing, regulating gene expression diversity in eukaryotic cells.
Antibodies against U2AF2 are widely used in molecular biology to study spliceosome assembly, splicing mechanisms, and their dysregulation in diseases. Aberrant splicing linked to U2AF2 mutations or altered expression has been implicated in cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and myelodysplastic syndromes. Researchers employ U2AF2 antibodies in techniques like Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence to analyze its expression, localization, and interactions with other splicing factors. These tools have also advanced the understanding of how splicing errors contribute to pathogenesis, offering potential diagnostic or therapeutic targets. Commercial U2AF2 antibodies are typically validated for specificity across human, mouse, and rat models, supporting translational research in RNA biology and disease mechanisms.