CDKN2A/p16 INK4A Recombinant Mouse mAb (Alexa Fluor^® 555 Conjugate) (SDT-4675)

CDKN2A/p16INK4A is a critical tumor suppressor protein encoded by the CDKN2A gene that functions as a key negative regulator of the cell cycle by specifically inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), thereby preventing the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) and arresting cell progression from the G1 to the S phase to curb uncontrolled proliferation. Often referred to as p16, this protein acts as a vital checkpoint against oncogenic transformation, and its loss of function through genetic deletion, mutation, or epigenetic silencing is a hallmark event in numerous human cancers, including melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and glioblastoma; conversely, its overexpression is frequently observed in cells undergoing senescence or in HPV-associated malignancies where it serves as a reliable diagnostic biomarker due to the disruption of the Rb pathway by viral oncoproteins, making p16INK4A not only a fundamental component of cellular defense mechanisms but also a significant target for therapeutic strategies and prognostic assessments in oncology.