DR4 Recombinant Rabbit mAb (S-3072-11)

DR4, also known as Death Receptor 4 or TRAIL-R1 (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 1), is a cell surface protein belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily that plays a pivotal role in regulating programmed cell death (apoptosis). Structurally characterized by an extracellular domain containing cysteine-rich repeats and an intracellular "death domain," DR4 specifically binds to the TRAIL ligand, which triggers the recruitment of adaptor proteins like FADD and the subsequent activation of initiator caspases (such as caspase-8), thereby initiating a proteolytic cascade that leads to cellular dismantling without inducing significant inflammation in normal tissues. This receptor is expressed in various tissue types and is particularly notable in cancer research because many tumor cells retain functional DR4 pathways while normal cells often possess protective mechanisms against TRAIL-induced apoptosis, making DR4 a promising therapeutic target for antibody-based drugs designed to selectively eliminate malignant cells by reactivating their intrinsic apoptotic machinery.