ABHD5 (abhydrolase domain-containing protein 5) is a key regulatory enzyme in lipid metabolism, primarily involved in triacylglycerol storage and lipid droplet dynamics. It activates adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) to mobilize lipids for energy production and viral assembly, as seen in hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication . The ABHD5 Antibody, Biotin conjugated is a research-grade immunochemical tool designed to detect and study ABHD5 protein interactions, localization, and functional roles in cellular processes. Biotin conjugation enables high-affinity binding to streptavidin-based probes, enhancing sensitivity in assays like ELISA, Western blotting, and immunoprecipitation .
The biotin-conjugated antibody is optimized for ELISA to quantify ABHD5 levels or study protein-protein interactions. For example:
ABHD5-PLIN1 Interaction: An ELISA-based competition assay demonstrated that anti-PLIN1 autoantibodies disrupt ABHD5 binding to PLIN1 (periplin), a lipid droplet protein critical for lipolysis regulation. This interaction is mediated by ABHD5’s binding to PLIN1’s C-terminal domain (amino acids 383–405) .
Methylation and Stemness: ABHD5 suppresses colorectal cancer (CRC) stemness by inhibiting DPY30-mediated SET1A methyltransferase activity, which methylates YAP and histone H3. Loss of ABHD5 increases c-Met expression and tumor growth .
ABHD5 regulates lipid metabolism and cellular signaling through distinct pathways:
Lipodystrophy Biomarkers: Anti-PLIN1 autoantibodies, which block ABHD5-PLIN1 binding, correlate with lipodystrophy severity and metabolic dysregulation (e.g., hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance) .
Cancer Research: ABHD5’s role in CRC stemness suggests potential therapeutic targeting. Antibodies like the biotin-conjugated variant enable precise detection of ABHD5 in tumor models .
ABHD5, also known as CGI-58, is a highly conserved protein that regulates various lipid metabolic pathways through interactions with perilipin (PLIN) and Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein (PNPLA) families . It functions as a coenzyme A-dependent lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase that catalyzes the transfer of acyl groups on lysophosphatidic acid, contributing to phosphatidic acid biosynthesis . ABHD5 may regulate cellular triacylglycerol storage through activation of the phospholipase PNPLA2 . Additionally, it plays roles in keratinocyte differentiation , lipid droplet fusion regulation , and acts as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by inhibiting YAP-induced c-Met overexpression .
Available ABHD5 antibodies exhibit several important characteristics researchers should consider:
Multiple cell lines have been validated for ABHD5 antibody research, providing reliable positive controls:
| Cell Types | Validated for Applications |
|---|---|
| LNCaP, HeLa, HEK-293, HepG2 | Western Blot |
| Jurkat, K-562, THP-1, Raji | Western Blot |
| HepG2 | Immunofluorescence/Immunocytochemistry |
When establishing experimental protocols, these validated cell lines serve as appropriate positive controls for assessing antibody performance before proceeding with experimental samples.
Optimal dilutions vary by application and specific antibody preparation:
| Application | Recommended Dilution Range |
|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:1000-1:6000 |
| Immunofluorescence (IF)/ICC | 1:200-1:800 |
| ELISA | 1:1000 |
These values serve as starting points; researchers should optimize dilutions for their specific experimental conditions and sample types. Sample-dependent adjustments are often necessary to achieve optimal signal-to-noise ratios .
For optimal detection using biotin-conjugated ABHD5 antibodies, researchers should consider these methodological approaches:
For immunofluorescence applications, following primary antibody incubation, detection is achieved using avidin-Texas Red conjugate (typically at 1:1000 dilution) .
In ELISA applications, coat plates with recombinant ABHD5 (100 ng/well) in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (pH 9.3), incubating overnight at 4°C . Block with PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20 and 5% BSA for 1 hour at 37°C .
When developing the reaction, biotin-labeled secondary antibodies (typically used at 1:1000 dilution) provide effective detection platforms .
For multiplex detection, carefully consider fluorophore combinations when using avidin/streptavidin-conjugated reporter molecules to avoid spectral overlap.
Effective blocking is crucial for reducing background signal:
Use PBS supplemented with 0.1% Tween 20 and 5% BSA as a blocking buffer for ELISA applications .
Extend blocking time to 1 hour at 37°C to ensure complete coverage of non-specific binding sites .
For tissue sections or cell preparations with high endogenous biotin (common in liver, kidney), consider implementing biotin/avidin blocking steps before primary antibody application.
Wash thoroughly (five times with PBS-0.1% Tween 20) following blocking and between antibody incubations .
Ensuring antibody specificity requires multiple validation approaches:
Confirm molecular weight matches the expected 39 kDa in Western blot applications .
Use paired positive controls (e.g., HepG2, HeLa cells) known to express ABHD5 .
Include negative controls such as primary antibody omission or isotype controls.
Consider using both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies targeting different ABHD5 epitopes for confirmation .
For critical applications, validate with ABHD5 knockdown or knockout models to confirm signal specificity.
ABHD5-PLIN interactions represent a critical regulatory mechanism in lipid metabolism. Researchers can investigate these interactions using:
ELISA-based interaction assays with plates coated with 100 ng/well of recombinant ABHD5 .
Blocking assays to assess anti-PLIN1 autoantibody interference with ABHD5-PLIN1 binding .
Mapping studies using overlapping peptides to identify specific interaction domains. Research has identified the PLIN1 region 233-405, particularly amino acids 383-405 in the C-terminal domain, as critical for ABHD5 binding .
Competition experiments using serial dilutions of potentially interfering antibodies (1/250, 1/500, 1/1000) to quantify disruption of protein-protein interactions .
ABHD5 has emerged as an important tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer through several mechanisms:
Use ABHD5 antibodies to examine protein expression in cancer vs. normal tissues, particularly in colon cancer models where ABHD5 inhibits YAP-induced c-Met overexpression and cancer stemness .
Apply co-localization studies with stemness markers (ALDH, CD133, CD44) in cancer cells to investigate correlations between ABHD5 expression and stem cell phenotypes .
Combine with nuclear/cytoplasmic fractionation approaches to study ABHD5's interaction with DPY30 (a core subunit of the SET1A methyltransferase complex) and its inhibition of DPY30 nuclear translocation .
Employ animal models (e.g., vil-Cre-pc fl/fl Abhd5 fl/fl mice) to validate in vitro findings regarding ABHD5's role in regulating stemness in tumors .
Recent structural modeling of ABHD5 provides insights for antibody-based research:
Computational models and topological shape analysis have identified functionally important residues on ABHD5's surface responsible for lipolysis activation by PNPLA2, lipid droplet targeting, and PLIN-binding .
When selecting antibodies, consider epitopes that target (or avoid) these key functional regions depending on your research question.
For studying pathological mutations associated with Chanarin-Dorfman Syndrome (CDS), choose antibodies that can still recognize the mutated forms or develop mutation-specific antibodies .
Use antibody-based approaches to validate computational models by examining the effects of mutating key residues in functional assays .
Several technical issues may arise when working with biotin-conjugated antibodies:
High Background Signal:
Weak Signal:
Inconsistent Results:
ABHD5 exhibits dynamic localization patterns that can vary with cellular conditions:
In basal states, ABHD5 frequently associates with lipid droplets through interactions with perilipin family proteins .
ABHD5 may shuttle between lipid droplets and other cellular compartments in response to metabolic signals or stimulation .
In colorectal cancer contexts, ABHD5 has been observed to interact with DPY30 in the cytoplasm, inhibiting DPY30's nuclear translocation and subsequent effects on YAP methylation .
When comparing immunofluorescence results across experimental conditions, quantify both intensity and subcellular distribution patterns.
Co-localization with other markers (lipid droplets, nuclear markers, etc.) provides context for interpreting ABHD5's functional state.
For accurate quantification:
Use appropriate housekeeping controls that remain stable under your experimental conditions.
For Western blot quantification, ensure signal falls within the linear range of detection.
When comparing ABHD5 expression across different cell types, normalize to relevant parameters and account for differential expression baselines.
In cancer research contexts, consider that ABHD5 knockdown can significantly increase stemness markers (ALDH, CD133, CD44), providing useful verification points .
For detecting ABHD5 interactions with partners like PLIN1, titered dilution series in blocking assays can provide quantitative measurements of binding interference .
Emerging research suggests several promising directions:
Investigate ABHD5's role in methylation regulation through its interaction with DPY30, potentially affecting broader epigenetic patterns beyond YAP methylation .
Explore ABHD5's function as a tumor suppressor in additional cancer types beyond colorectal cancer.
Develop multiplex approaches to simultaneously track ABHD5 and its interaction partners (PLIN family proteins, DPY30, SET1A) under various physiological and pathological conditions.
Apply ABHD5 antibodies in high-throughput screening approaches to identify novel modulators of ABHD5 function as potential therapeutic targets.
Investigate ABHD5's non-lipid droplet functions and potential roles in other cellular compartments.
Several methodological innovations could advance ABHD5 research:
Development of proximity-labeling approaches using ABHD5 antibodies to identify novel interaction partners in different cellular contexts.
Application of super-resolution microscopy techniques to better visualize ABHD5 dynamics relative to subcellular structures.
Integration of single-cell analysis approaches to examine ABHD5 expression heterogeneity within tissues.
Combination of antibody-based detection with mass spectrometry to identify post-translational modifications affecting ABHD5 function.
Development of conformation-specific antibodies that can distinguish between different functional states of ABHD5.