Mouse Monoclonal RB Antibody

The retinoblastoma (RB) antibody targets the RB protein, a critical tumor suppressor encoded by the *RB1* gene. Discovered through studies on retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer, the RB protein's role in cell cycle regulation was established in the 1980s. Alfred Knudson's "two-hit hypothesis" proposed that biallelic inactivation of *RB1* drives tumorigenesis, later confirmed by molecular cloning of the gene. The RB protein functions by binding E2F transcription factors, inhibiting cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase. Its activity is modulated through phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which release E2Fs to activate DNA replication genes. Dysregulation of RB signaling, via mutations, deletions, or epigenetic silencing, is implicated in numerous cancers beyond retinoblastoma, including osteosarcoma, lung, and breast cancers. RB antibodies are vital tools in research and diagnostics, enabling detection of RB expression levels and phosphorylation status via techniques like Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. These applications help assess tumor suppressor functionality, evaluate cancer prognosis, and guide therapeutic strategies targeting cell cycle checkpoints. The development of RB antibodies has significantly advanced understanding of tumor biology and personalized oncology approaches.