Autophagy Antibodies

In cells, autophagy, or autophagocytosis, is the process by which the internal cell components and organelles are broken down for recycling of materials. In essence, it is the cell digesting itself by action of enzymes from within the same cell. Many of the internal structures are sectioned off into double membrane vesicles called autophagosomes and delivered to the lysosome to be broken down for reuse. Autophagy occurs in healthy and typically functioning cells. However, it can be enhanced when the cell is under duress due to starvation, disease, or infection. In this instance, the cell is essentially eating its components and tissues for nutrition or to dispose of damaged materials. The cannibalized materials generate energy and promote the building of new proteins and membranes. This way, old cell components can be replaced with fresh substitutes. Cancer cells have been known to exploit autophagy in order to survive and proliferate in nutrient- poor environments.

Antibodies for autophagy are used against peptides involved in autophagy resulting in facilitation, slowing, or halting of the process. Sorting Nexin 26 antibody, or SNX26, may play an integral role in the control of glucose transport by insulin. Anti-TOX3, or TOX3 antibody, belongs to a large group of HMG- box peptides that work by bending and unwinding DNA by way of chromatin modification. TOX3 protein has one HMG box binding site. Anti- TOX3 antibody is useful in autophagy research as it binds to and targets the TOX3 protein.