When searching for anti-p16 antibodies, it is important to recognize that "p16" refers to two structurally and functionally unrelated proteins. The first — and more widely studied — is p16 INK4A, the tumor suppressor protein encoded by the CDKN2A gene (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A). This 156-amino-acid protein belongs to the CDKN2 family and functions by inhibiting CDK4 and CDK6, thereby blocking cell cycle progression from G1 to S phase. Loss of p16 INK4A expression is a hallmark of many human cancers, making anti-p16 INK4A antibodies essential tools in oncology research, cancer diagnostics, and cell senescence studies. The second target is p16 ARC, a subunit of the Arp2/3 actin nucleation complex encoded by the ARPC5 gene. Despite sharing the "p16" label, p16 ARC has no functional relationship to CDKN2A and is studied in the context of actin cytoskeleton dynamics and cell motility. Researchers should verify which target an antibody is validated against before purchasing.
Biocompare currently lists 730 anti-p16 antibodies from 37 suppliers, with collectively hundreds of citations in peer-reviewed literature — individual products carry as many as 328 citations and dozens of supporting figures, reflecting broad adoption across the research community. User reviews are also available to help evaluate product performance. These antibodies support a wide range of experimental applications, including western blot (WB), immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded and frozen sections (IHC-p, IHC-fr), immunofluorescence (IF), immunocytochemistry (ICC), flow cytometry including intracellular staining (FCM, FCM-i), immunoprecipitation (IP), and ELISA. Reactivity spans human, mouse, and rat, with select products validated in additional species.