TFAP2A / TFAP2B Antibody

Background

TFAP2A is a transcription factor belonging to the AP-2 family, which regulates gene expression during embryonic development, cell differentiation, and proliferation. TFAP2A binds to GC-rich promoter sequences and modulates the transcription of target genes involved in neural crest formation, craniofacial development, and epidermal differentiation. It plays a critical role in organogenesis, particularly in the development of the face, limbs, and neural tube, by controlling cell fate specification and survival. TFAP2A is also involved in tumor suppression and oncogenesis, where it regulates genes associated with apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dysregulation of TFAP2A is linked to developmental disorders such as branchio-oculo-facial syndrome (BOFS) and cancers, including breast, melanoma, and ovarian cancer, where its altered expression drives abnormal cell growth and metastasis. Knockout studies demonstrate severe developmental defects, including craniofacial abnormalities and disrupted neural crest cell differentiation, highlighting TFAP2A's essential role in embryogenesis, tissue development, and gene regulation.