The fork head protein of Drosophila melanogaster, a transcription factor that promotes terminal rather than segmental development, contains neither homeodomains nor zinc-fingers characteristic of other transcription factors. Instead, it contains a distinct type of DNA-binding region, containing around 100 amino acids, which has since been identified in a number of transcription factors (including D. melanogaster FD1-5, mammalian HNF-3, human HTLF, Saccharomyces cerevisiae HCM1, etc.). This is referred to as the fork head domain but is also known as a 'winged helix'. The fork head domain binds B-DNA as a monomer but shows no similarity to previously identified DNA-binding motifs. Although the domain is found in several different transcription factors, a common function is their involvement in early developmental decisions of cell fates during embryogenesis.
One of the many immunotolerance mechanisms that the immune system has developed to distinguish between self and non-self antigens is regulatory T cells or Tregs. Several elegant experiments using transgenic mice and retrovirus-mediated over expression studies, have led to the identification of FoxP3, a transcription factor, as a specific molecular marker essential for the development and function of Tregs. The primary evidence regarding the involvement of FoxP3 in the development of Tregs was provided in patients suffering from IPEX, a rare and fatal human autoimmune disease. The emergence of Tregs and the role of FoxP3 as a critical player in the negative control of various normal and pathological immune responses holds great promise for the development of novel therapies for autoimmune diseases.
Applications:
Suitable for use in Flow Cytometry and Western Blot. Other applications not tested.
Recommended Dilution:
Western Blot:2ug/ml
Flow (Intracellular): 100ng/2x10e6 cells
Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher.
Positive Control:
Mouse lymph node cells
Storage and Stability:
May be stored at 4 degrees C for short-term only. For long-term storage and to avoid repeated freezing and thawing, aliquot Store at -20 degrees C. Aliquots are stable for at least 12 months at -20 degrees C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.