Delta-sarcoglycan, a key component of the sarcoglycan complex, is a transmembrane protein critical for maintaining the structural integrity of muscle cell membranes. This complex, which includes alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-sarcoglycan subunits, interacts with dystrophin and other proteins to form the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). The DGC stabilizes muscle fibers during contraction by linking the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix, protecting cells from mechanical stress. Mutations in the delta-sarcoglycan gene (SGCD) disrupt this complex, leading to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2F (LGMD2F), a progressive disorder characterized by muscle weakness and degeneration.
Antibodies targeting delta-sarcoglycan are essential tools in research and diagnostics. They enable the detection and localization of delta-sarcoglycan in tissues, helping to assess protein expression levels in muscular dystrophy models or patient biopsies. These antibodies are widely used in techniques like immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence to study disease mechanisms, validate gene therapy outcomes, or confirm SGCD mutations. Commercial delta-sarcoglycan antibodies are typically raised in rabbits or mice, often validated for specificity against recombinant or endogenous protein.
Understanding delta-sarcoglycan’s role and its associated antibodies advances both the diagnosis of LGMD2F and the development of targeted therapies, such as gene replacement or protein stabilization strategies.