ABCF2 is a cytosolic member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily. Unlike other ABC transporters, it lacks transmembrane domains but retains ATP-binding motifs, suggesting roles in intracellular processes such as translational regulation and stress response . ABCF2 is encoded by the ABCF2 gene on chromosome 7q34–36 and is associated with chemoresistance in ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers .
ABCF2 antibodies are widely used in:
Western Blot (WB): Detects ABCF2 at ~71–75 kDa in lysates from HEK-293T, HeLa, and breast cancer cells .
Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Evaluates ABCF2 expression in tumor tissues, correlating with prognosis and treatment response .
Immunofluorescence (IF): Localizes ABCF2 in cytoplasmic compartments .
Immunoprecipitation (IP): Isolates ABCF2 for interaction studies .
Ovarian Cancer: ABCF2 overexpression in clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCC) correlates with cisplatin resistance. Knockdown sensitizes cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis, while overexpression enhances survival .
Breast Cancer: High ABCF2 expression predicts longer disease-free survival in lymph node-positive patients and ER/PR-negative tumors treated with endocrine therapy .
ABCF2 contains a functional antioxidant response element (ARE) in its promoter, making it an NRF2 target gene. This regulatory link explains its role in oxidative stress response and drug efflux . Despite lacking transmembrane domains, ABCF2 modulates chloride channel activity (e.g., CLCN3 suppression) and ribosomal function .
ABCF2 antibodies are pivotal for:
Identifying patients likely to develop chemoresistance.
Validating ABCF2 as a biomarker for poor prognosis in gynecologic cancers .
Current studies primarily correlate ABCF2 expression with clinical outcomes. Functional experiments, such as CRISPR-based knockout models, are needed to clarify its mechanistic role in drug resistance. Commercial antibodies require further validation in diverse cancer types .
ABCF2 is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily, specifically belonging to subfamily F. Unlike typical ABC transporters that function in membrane transport, ABCF2 is primarily cytosolic and plays vital roles in regulating cellular functions including ribosome biogenesis and mRNA processing. The protein contributes to RNA metabolism and transport mechanisms within cells, making it an important target for investigation in various disease contexts including cancer, neurological disorders, and viral infections .
The primary types available are polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits that target specific epitopes of human ABCF2. These include products such as the ABCF2 Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody (CAB4365) generated against a recombinant fusion protein containing amino acids 1-250 of human ABCF2 (NP_005683.2) , and the Anti-ABCF2 Antibody (A42877) developed against a synthesized peptide derived from internal regions of human ABCF2 . Most commercially available antibodies have been validated for Western blot applications, with some also tested for immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry, and ELISA techniques .
When selecting an ABCF2 antibody, consider:
Application compatibility: Verify validation data for your intended application (Western blot, immunofluorescence, etc.)
Species reactivity: Most ABCF2 antibodies react with human samples, with some cross-reacting with mouse samples
Epitope specificity: Consider whether the antibody targets a region of interest in ABCF2
Validation evidence: Review published scientific validation data showing detection of endogenous ABCF2 in appropriate cell lines like HeLa, 293T, or MCF7
Clonality requirements: For reproducibility across experiments, consider whether polyclonal variability is acceptable or if monoclonal consistency is needed
When studying specific protein domains or interactions, select antibodies targeting relevant epitopes that won't interfere with binding partners or functional regions under investigation.
For optimal Western blot detection of ABCF2:
Sample preparation: Use cell lines with confirmed ABCF2 expression (293T, HeLa, MCF7, mouse testis, mouse brain)
Protein amount: Load 20-50μg of total protein per lane
Antibody dilution: Utilize a dilution range of 1:500 to 1:2000 for primary antibody
Incubation conditions: Overnight at 4°C is recommended for primary antibody
Detection method: HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies with ECL detection systems
Expected molecular weight: Look for a band at approximately 71-72kDa
For challenging samples, consider increasing protein load, extending antibody incubation time, or using signal enhancement systems to improve detection sensitivity.
For immunofluorescence optimization with ABCF2 antibodies:
Fixation method: 4% paraformaldehyde (10-15 minutes) works well for most applications
Permeabilization: Use 0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS for 5-10 minutes
Blocking: 5% normal serum (matching secondary antibody host) for 1 hour
Incubation time: Overnight at 4°C for maximum sensitivity
Controls: Include:
Secondary-only control to assess background
Known positive control (e.g., HeLa cells)
Competitive blocking with immunizing peptide when available
For co-localization studies, ensure spectral separation between fluorophores and use sequential scanning to minimize bleed-through when performing confocal microscopy.
To validate ABCF2 antibody specificity:
Molecular weight verification: Confirm detection at the expected 71-72kDa size
Positive controls: Use cell lines with known ABCF2 expression (293T, HeLa, MCF7)
Knockdown/knockout validation: Perform siRNA knockdown or CRISPR knockout of ABCF2 and confirm signal reduction
Recombinant protein controls: If available, use purified ABCF2 protein as a positive control
Multiple antibody comparison: Use antibodies targeting different ABCF2 epitopes and compare detection patterns
Pre-absorption test: Pre-incubate antibody with immunizing peptide to confirm specificity
These steps collectively provide strong evidence for antibody specificity and experimental reliability across different applications.
ABCF2 has been identified as a critical mediator of cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer through several mechanisms:
NRF2 pathway regulation: ABCF2 is a direct target gene of the transcription factor NRF2, which is known to enhance chemoresistance in various cancers
Anti-apoptotic effects: Cells with high ABCF2 expression demonstrate reduced apoptosis when exposed to cisplatin
Functional consequences:
The identification of a functional antioxidant response element (ARE) in the ABCF2 promoter region establishes it as a direct NRF2 target gene, placing it within a broader network of genes involved in chemoresistance mechanisms .
ABCF2 expression can be experimentally manipulated through several approaches:
Overexpression strategies:
Transient transfection of ABCF2 expression vectors
Stable cell line generation using lentiviral/retroviral systems with selection markers
Inducible expression systems (e.g., Tet-On/Off) for temporal control
Knockdown/knockout approaches:
siRNA for transient knockdown (72-96 hour window)
shRNA for stable knockdown
CRISPR-Cas9 for complete knockout
Pathway modulation:
NRF2 activators (e.g., sulforaphane) to indirectly increase ABCF2 expression
NRF2 inhibitors to downregulate ABCF2
Each approach should include appropriate controls and validation of ABCF2 expression levels using Western blot or qRT-PCR. For chemoresistance studies, measure cell viability, apoptosis markers, and cisplatin sensitivity using dose-response curves and IC50 determinations .
To comprehensively assess ABCF2's impact on chemoresistance, researchers should employ multiple complementary assays:
Cell viability assays:
MTT/MTS/WST-1 for metabolic activity
Crystal violet staining for adherent cell mass
Real-time cell analysis systems for dynamic monitoring
Apoptosis measurements:
Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometry
Caspase-3/7 activity assays
PARP cleavage by Western blot
Drug sensitivity parameters:
IC50 determination through dose-response curves
Colony formation assays for long-term survival
Drug accumulation assays to assess cellular drug uptake
Molecular pathway analysis:
NRF2 pathway activation status
Expression of additional ABC transporters
Oxidative stress markers
In vivo models (for advanced studies):
Xenograft models with manipulated ABCF2 expression
Patient-derived xenografts
Response to cisplatin treatment regimens
These multi-dimensional approaches provide robust evidence for ABCF2's role in chemoresistance mechanisms .
ABCF2 has been identified as a host cell protein that specifically mediates adherence of the zoonotic pathogen Pasteurella multocida. This function appears to be specific, as ABCF2 does not contribute to the adherence of other bacterial species such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bordetella bronchiseptica .
The mechanism involves:
Specific recognition: ABCF2 appears to recognize structures on P. multocida not present on other bacterial species
Expression regulation: P. multocida infection upregulates host ABCF2 expression through activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways
Functional impact: Overexpression of ABCF2 markedly increases bacterial adherence, while knockdown reduces it
Downstream consequences: ABCF2 involvement in P. multocida-induced p53-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway
This represents a previously unrecognized function of ABCF2 beyond its known roles in RNA metabolism and chemoresistance.
To study ABCF2-pathogen interactions, researchers can employ these methodological approaches:
Proximity labeling techniques:
TurboID-based labeling to identify interacting proteins
BioID or APEX2 approaches for temporal interaction studies
Infection models:
Cell culture infection assays with adherence/invasion quantification
Bacterial attachment assays with microscopy visualization
Host cell protein knockdown/overexpression followed by infection
Binding studies:
Pull-down assays with recombinant ABCF2
Bacterial surface protein identification using mass spectrometry
Surface plasmon resonance for binding kinetics
Signaling pathway analysis:
Inhibitor studies targeting p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways
Phosphorylation status assessment of key signaling molecules
Gene expression profiling after infection
Functional assays:
ABCF2 knockout/knockdown effects on bacterial adherence
Site-directed mutagenesis to identify critical ABCF2 domains
Competitive inhibition studies
These approaches provide complementary data to characterize the molecular basis of ABCF2-pathogen interactions .
For identifying novel ABCF2 interacting partners, consider these methodological approaches:
Proximity-based labeling:
Affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry:
Tagged ABCF2 expression (FLAG, HA, GFP)
Gentle lysis conditions to preserve interactions
Differential analysis comparing bait vs. control pulldowns
Quantitative approaches (SILAC, TMT) for higher confidence
Yeast two-hybrid screening:
Use ABCF2 domains as bait against cDNA libraries
Validate hits with orthogonal methods
Protein complementation assays:
Split-GFP or NanoBiT systems
Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC)
Crosslinking strategies:
Chemical crosslinking followed by MS analysis
Photo-crosslinking for capturing transient interactions
Each approach has strengths and limitations; combining multiple methods provides higher confidence in identifying genuine interacting partners.
For particularly challenging applications, consider using genetically tagged ABCF2 constructs (FLAG, HA, GFP) as alternatives to direct antibody detection.
ABCF2 antibodies can be integrated with complementary techniques for comprehensive pathway analysis:
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies:
Dual immunoprecipitation strategies:
Sequential IP with ABCF2 and interaction partner antibodies
Investigate ABCF2 role in protein complexes (e.g., ribosome-associated complexes)
CRISPR screens with ABCF2 pathway readouts:
Genome-wide or targeted screens with ABCF2 expression/localization as endpoints
Identify regulatory factors controlling ABCF2 function
Single-cell approaches:
Combine ABCF2 antibodies with other markers for mass cytometry (CyTOF)
Single-cell Western blot for heterogeneity analysis
Spatial transcriptomics/proteomics:
Correlate ABCF2 protein localization with spatial gene expression patterns
Investigate microenvironmental influences on ABCF2 expression and function
Multiomics integration:
Combine ABCF2 protein data with transcriptomics, metabolomics
Network analysis to position ABCF2 within broader cellular pathways
These integrative approaches provide deeper insights into ABCF2 biology than any single technique alone.