GRF7 Antibody
Description
GRF7 in Plant Biology
GRF7 is a transcriptional repressor that modulates stress-responsive genes under normal growth conditions. Key findings include:
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Role in Stress Response: In Arabidopsis thaliana, GRF7 binds to the promoter of DREB2A (a key osmotic stress-responsive gene) to repress its expression under non-stress conditions, preventing unnecessary growth inhibition .
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Genetic Regulation: GRF7 knockout plants exhibit upregulated stress-responsive genes, confirming its role as a negative regulator .
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Cellular Localization: GRF7 is nuclear-localized, as shown by GFP-fusion protein assays .
Table 1: GRF7 Functional Characteristics in Plants
| Feature | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Target Gene | DREB2A | |
| Binding Site | TGTCAGG motif in DREB2A promoter | |
| Stress Response | Represses osmotic stress-related genes under normal conditions | |
| Cellular Localization | Nuclear |
GRF7 Homologs in Other Species
In rice (Oryza sativa), OsGRF7 regulates plant architecture by influencing phytohormone pathways:
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Hormonal Interactions: OsGRF7 modulates gibberellic acid (GA) synthesis and auxin signaling, affecting internode length and leaf angle .
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Phenotypic Effects: Overexpression of OsGRF7 reduces plant height and leaf angle, while knockdown lines show opposite trends .
Table 2: OsGRF7 Transgenic Phenotypes
| Transgenic Line | Plant Height | Leaf Angle | Cellular Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRF7OE (Overexpression) | ↓ 20% | ↓ 60-80% | Increased cell layers, shorter parenchymal cells |
| GRF7RNAi (Knockdown) | ↔ | ↑ 40-70% | Reduced adaxial cell proliferation |
Antibody-Related Context
While GRF7-specific antibodies are not directly discussed in the provided sources, methodological insights from antibody studies include:
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Antibody Engineering: Fc-engineered antibodies with abolished effector functions (e.g., LALAPG variants) are used to study immune responses without confounding FcγR interactions .
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Flow Cytometry: Alexa Fluor® 647-conjugated antibodies (e.g., anti-TCF7/TCF1) are applied in intracellular staining protocols, requiring fixation and permeabilization steps .
Technical Considerations for Antibody Development
Key parameters for antibodies targeting transcription factors like GRF7:
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Epitope Specificity: Antibodies must target accessible regions (e.g., GRF7’s N-terminal domain).
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Validation: Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and transient expression assays (e.g., protoplast systems) are critical for confirming antibody efficacy .
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Cross-Reactivity: GRF7 homologs (e.g., GRF1–GRF9 in Arabidopsis) necessitate stringent specificity testing .
Research Gaps and Future Directions
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No studies in the reviewed literature directly address GRF7 antibody development.
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Potential applications include:
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Plant Stress Studies: Antibodies could track GRF7 localization during drought or salinity stress.
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CRISPR/Cas9 Validation: Antibodies may assist in screening GRF7 knockout lines.
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