Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a basic leucine zipper transcription factor encoded by NFE2L2 in humans that regulates the cellular antioxidant response. It is a 605-amino acid protein comprised of seven highly conserved Nrf2-ECH (Neh) homology domains. Nrf2 contains a large central domain that recruits transcriptional co-activators, mediates heterodimerization with the transcription factor Maf, and can be phosphorylated by GSK3 or the ubiquitin ligase adapter protein β-TrCP. The Nrf2 central domain is flanked by an N-terminal Neh2 domain that binds the negative regulator Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1; ) and a C-terminal Neh3 domain that is required for transactivation. Nrf2 is ubiquitously expressed and, under homeostatic conditions, associates with Keap1 in the cytoplasm, preventing Nrf2 nuclear translocation and promoting its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. In the presence of xenobiotic electrophiles or oxidants, Keap1 releases Nrf2 which translocates to the nucleus, dimerizes with Maf, and induces the expression of a variety of cytoprotective genes that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic functions. Nrf2 siRNA knockdown increases DNA-crosslinking and apoptosis induced by cisplatin in A549 cancer cells, indicating that Nrf2 contributes to chemoresistance. Tumor Nrf2 levels are increased in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and this increase is associated with poor overall survival. Cayman''s Nrf2 (C-Term) Polyclonal Antibody can be used for flow cytometry (FC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunofluorescence (IF), and Western blot (WB) applications. The antibody preferentially recognizes polyubiquitinated Nrf2 at 90 kDa from human, mouse, and rat samples.
