研究领域介绍

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle includes various enzymatic reactions that constitute a key part of cellular aerobic respiration. The transport of the glycolytic end product pyruvate into mitochondria and the decarboxylation of pyruvate in the TCA cycle generate energy through oxidative phosphorylation under aerobic conditions. Two inner mitochondrial membrane proteins, mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) and mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 2 (MPC2), form a 150 kDa complex and are essential proteins in the facilitated transport of pyruvate into mitochondria . Citrate synthase catalyzes the first and rate-limiting reaction of the TCA cycle. Mitochondrial aconitase 2 (ACO2) catalyzes the conversion of citrate to isocitrate via cis-aconitate. IDH1 and IDH2 are two of the three isocitrate dehydrogenases that catalyze oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG). IDH1 functions as a tumor suppressor in the cytoplasm and peroxisomes, whereas IDH2 is in mitochondria and is involved in the TCA cycle. Mutations in IDH2 have also been identified in malignant gliomas. Dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (DLST) is a subunit of the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, a key enzymatic complex in the TCA cycle. Succinate dehydrogenase subunit A (SDHA) is a component of the TCA cycle and the electron transport chain and is involved in the oxidation of succinate. Fumarase catalyzes the conversion of fumarate to malate. Fumarase deficiency leads to the accumulation of fumarate, an oncometabolite that has been shown to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), a developmental process that has been implicated in oncogenesis.

NF-κB/Rel family is a key transcription factor regulating inflammation and immune responses. Mammals have five members. NF-κB is inhibited by IκB in resting cells and translocates into nucleus after activation. Relevant antibodies and references are also listed.

Pericytes are key components of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), closely interacting with endothelial cells (ECs) via signaling pathways like PDGF-β. Major pericyte markers include PDGFR-β, α-smooth muscle actin, desmin, CD146, CD13, CD31, and NG2. These markers regulate pericyte-EC communication, cytoskeleton function, and inflammatory responses in the central nervous system.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) forms dimers that bind PDGF receptors, activating downstream signaling molecules such as PI3K, SHP-2, Akt, and Erk1/2. These pathways regulate cell growth, migration, and differentiation. PDGF signaling is frequently dysregulated in solid tumors, supporting tumor cell proliferation, stromal interaction, and angiogenesis. Targeting PDGF signaling represents a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer.

This text introduces common immunohistochemical markers for pancreatic cells and tumors. Insulin/C‑peptide, glucagon, and NKX6.1 serve as key markers for pancreatic β and α cells, respectively. Pan‑keratin and CD200 help differentiate pancreatic adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors. Relevant antibodies and their applications are also listed.

The nucleosome, made up of four core histone proteins (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4), is the primary building block of chromatin. Originally thought to function as a static scaffold for DNA packaging, histones have now been shown to be dynamic proteins, undergoing multiple types of post-translational modifications, including acetylation, phosphorylation, methylation, and ubiquitination .

Organelle localization is a dynamic process regulated by the cytoskeleton and specific signal sequences. Endogenous targeting signals determine protein destinations, while exogenous strategies direct drugs and nanoparticles to organelles for therapy. Accurate subcellular distribution analysis aids therapeutic evaluation.

Nuclear receptors are ligand‑dependent transcription factors regulating reproduction, development and metabolism via post‑translational modifications. Key members include AR, ERα, GR, PPARγ, PR, RARs and RXRs, each mediating distinct biological processes. Relevant antibodies for research are listed.

Tight junctions (zona occludens) form a continuous fluid barrier across epithelium and endothelium, regulating paracellular permeability and maintaining cell polarity by blocking the movement of transmembrane proteins between apical and basolateral cell surfaces. Composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, tight junctions link to the cytoskeleton via zona occludens proteins ZO-1, ZO-2 and ZO-3. The claudin family determines epithelial barrier properties, while ZO-1 and ZO-2 are essential for tight junction assembly and function; ZO-3 negatively regulates junction formation. Afadin participates in cell movement directionality, and CD2AP contributes to tight junction formation in specialized cells and EGFR endocytosis. This paper also lists relevant antibodies for tight junction protein detection.

cLEF1 and TCF belong to the high mobility group (HMG) DNA‑binding transcription factor family, which includes LEF1, TCF1 (TCF7), TCF3 (TCF7L1), and TCF4 (TCF7L2). LEF1 and TCF1/TCF7 are key regulators of early lymphoid development and act downstream of the Wnt signaling pathway. They bind to Wnt response elements and provide docking sites for β‑catenin; upon Wnt activation, β‑catenin translocates into the nucleus to promote target gene transcription. These proteins are dynamically expressed during development, and aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway is associated with many cancers including colon cancer. Relevant antibodies for detecting these proteins and reference literature are also listed.