Colon cancer (COC) is a malignant tumor with persistently high global incidence and mortality rates. Despite advancements in surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies, issues of tumor metastasis and chemoresistance remain severe, leading to limited improvement in patient prognosis. In recent years, a novel, iron-dependent form of regulated cell death—ferroptosis—has garnered significant attention for its potential in cancer therapy. It primarily involves iron-mediated Fenton reactions generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), depletion of glutathione (GSH), inhibition of the key antioxidant enzyme GPX4, and the consequent lethal accumulation of lipid peroxides (LPO). However, a major challenge lies in inducing ferroptosis efficiently and specifically at tumor sites while avoiding off-target toxicity to normal tissues.

The array of techniques—WB, IF, FC, and others—can be overwhelming, and the core confusion often boils down to: "Which assay is right for my project?" In reality, each method has its own ideal application. By clarifying your experimental goals and sample characteristics, you can quickly and accurately match the right technique. Below, we break down the core logic and scope of each method, followed by a general guide on how to choose.

This article systematically organizes the 20 common amino acids, categorizing them into four primary groups: Nonpolar (Hydrophobic), Polar, Basic, and Acidic. It comprehensively summarizes core information for each amino acid—including name, English abbreviation, isoelectric point (pI), codons, and molecular weight—providing a clear and intuitive reference for quick consultation.

Cell death mechanisms can be categorized into several types, including apoptosis, necrosis, autophagic cell death, and regulated forms like ferroptosis and disulfidptosis. Each type of cell death has distinct biological functions and characteristics.

Antibodies are powerful tools for protein and molecular detection and purification. While intact antibodies (typically IgG or IgM) are suitable for most immunoassay applications, certain procedures benefit from the use of antibody fragments such as Fab, scFv, and dAb.

Western blot (WB) is a routine yet powerful protein detection method used to study post-translational modifications, relative protein abundance, molecular weight, and protein-protein interactions. Since its inception, WB has provided valuable insights for academic research, diagnostics, and therapeutic testing. As shown in Figure 1, WB separates native or denatured proteins via gel electrophoresis, transfers them to a membrane while preserving peptide integrity and biological activity, and uses specific antibodies to identify and quantify target proteins within complex mixtures extracted from cells or tissues.

The generation of the VBASE2 database was previously described (Retter et al. 2005).

Antibodies are immune system-related proteins called immunoglobulins. Each antibody consists of four polypeptide – two heavy chains and two light chains joined to form a "Y" shaped molecule.

The Kabat numbering scheme is a widely adopted standard for numbering the residues in an antibody in a consistent manner. However the scheme has problems!