Long-chain specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) is one of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenases that catalyze the initial step of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation. This aerobic process breaks down fatty acids into acetyl-CoA, enabling the production of energy from fats. The first step in fatty acid beta-oxidation involves the removal of one hydrogen atom from C-2 and C-3 of the straight-chain fatty acyl-CoA thioester, resulting in the formation of trans-2-enoyl-CoA. Among the various mitochondrial acyl-CoA dehydrogenases, LCAD can act on saturated and unsaturated acyl-CoAs containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms, with a preference for 8 to 18 carbons long primary chains.
ACADL (Long-chain specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, mitochondrial) is also known as LCAD and belongs to the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family. It catalyzes the first reaction of the mitochondrial β-oxidation of fatty acids and is synthesized in the cytosol as a precursor that is larger than its mature form . This enzyme plays a critical role in energy metabolism, particularly in tissues with high energy demands such as muscle and heart, where long-chain fatty acids serve as important energy sources . Recent studies have also revealed that ACADL may have significant functions in the brain and other tissues that don't primarily rely on fat for energy generation .
ACADL antibodies have been validated for multiple research applications based on extensive testing. The primary applications include:
| Application | Validation Status | Publications |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | Validated with multiple samples | 5 publications cited |
| Immunohistochemistry (IHC) | Validated | 1 publication cited |
| ELISA | Validated | Referenced in product information |
Additionally, positive Western blot detection has been confirmed in mouse kidney tissue, HepG2 cells, rat kidney tissue, HeLa cells, HEK-293 cells, and NIH/3T3 cells .
Optimal dilutions for ACADL antibodies vary by application:
| Application | Recommended Dilution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:1000-1:6000 | Optimal dilution may be sample-dependent |
| Immunohistochemistry (IHC) | 1:100-1:500 | Check validation data gallery for specific samples |
It is strongly recommended that researchers titrate these antibodies in each testing system to obtain optimal results as performance can be sample-dependent .
The molecular characteristics of ACADL are well-documented:
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | acyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase, long chain |
| Calculated Molecular Weight | 430 aa, 48 kDa |
| Observed Molecular Weight | 45-48 kDa |
| GenBank Accession Number | BC039063 |
| Gene ID (NCBI) | 33 |
| UNIPROT ID | P28330 |
This information is critical when validating antibody specificity through techniques like Western blotting .
For optimal immunohistochemistry results with ACADL antibodies, the following antigen retrieval conditions are recommended:
Primary suggestion: Antigen retrieval with TE buffer pH 9.0
Alternative method: Antigen retrieval with citrate buffer pH 6.0
These conditions have been specifically tested with human liver cancer tissue and human liver tissue samples . It is advisable to compare both methods when establishing protocols for new tissue types as antigen accessibility can vary significantly between tissues.
Validating antibody specificity is critical for reliable research results. For ACADL antibodies, a multi-method approach is recommended:
Western blot analysis: Compare observed band size (45-48 kDa) with the calculated molecular weight (48 kDa)
Positive and negative controls: Use tissues known to express ACADL (kidney, liver) versus low-expressing tissues
Knockout/knockdown validation: When possible, use CRISPR/Cas9 ACADL knockout cells as a negative control, similar to the approach used in ACADL functional studies
Competitive blocking: Pre-incubate the antibody with purified ACADL protein before immunostaining to confirm binding specificity
Cross-reactivity testing: Test against related proteins in the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family to ensure specificity
Importantly, researchers should document that their antibody recognizes both the precursor and mature forms of the protein when studying tissues where processing may vary .
For reliable ACADL detection in various sample types:
Tissue samples: Freshly harvested tissues should be immediately processed or flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen to preserve protein integrity
Cell lysates: Use PBS with 0.02% sodium azide and appropriate protease inhibitors to prevent degradation
Storage conditions: Maintain antibody at -20°C with 50% glycerol pH 7.3; stable for one year after shipment
Mass spectrometry preparation: For proteomic analysis of ACADL, nanoLC-MS/MS analysis using a nanoACQUITY Ultra-Performance-LC coupled to a TripleTOF 5600 mass spectrometer has been successfully employed
Immunoprecipitation: When performing IP-MS experiments to identify ACADL interactions, purification by antigen affinity methods has shown superior results
ACADL antibodies have become valuable tools in cancer research, particularly in understanding metabolic reprogramming in tumors:
NSCLC research: In non-small cell lung cancer studies, ACADL antibodies have been used to analyze ACADL expression levels and correlate them with patient survival data from TCGA databases
Expression analysis: Researchers have used ACADL antibodies to compare expression between tumor and normal tissues through:
Western blot quantification
Immunohistochemical staining
Proteomic analysis
Mechanistic studies: ACADL antibodies have enabled investigation of the ACADL-YAP axis, revealing that ACADL regulates YAP phosphorylation levels and cellular localization, which influences cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis
In vivo validation: ACADL antibodies have been used to confirm protein expression in xenograft models, validating in vitro findings and establishing the tumorigenic effects of ACADL in NSCLC cells
The dual role of ACADL in cancer is particularly intriguing, as it appears to have different effects (inhibiting or promoting) depending on the tumor type .
When investigating ACADL's role in metabolic pathways, researchers can employ several approaches:
Transcriptional analysis: Real-time PCR with primer pairs targeted to unique exon junctions can measure expression levels of alternative ACADL transcripts across different tissues
Enzyme activity assays: ACADL activity toward different substrates (particularly long-chain fatty acids with carbon chain lengths between C20-C26) can be assessed using spectrophotometric methods
Substrate specificity analysis: ACADL shows optimal activity towards C22CoA, which is important when designing experiments to study its function
Combined analysis: For comprehensive understanding of fatty acid oxidation, researchers should consider analyzing ACADL together with ACAD9 and ACAD11, which collectively accommodate the full spectrum of long-chain fatty acid substrates in mitochondrial β-oxidation
Brain tissue studies: As ACADL has significant expression in human brain, specialized extraction protocols may be necessary when studying neurological tissues compared to more commonly studied tissues like liver or muscle
Recent advances in antibody engineering provide several strategies for optimizing ACADL antibodies:
Deep learning approaches: Tools like DeepAb can predict antibody Fv structure directly from sequence, allowing for rational design of optimized variants
Deep mutational scanning (DMS): Experimental data from single-point mutations can be combined with computational methods to identify potentially beneficial modifications
High-throughput screening: Production and testing of 200+ antibody variants can identify those with enhanced properties. In one study, 91% of designed clones exhibited increased thermal stability and 94% showed improved affinity
Stability assessment: Testing for thermal and colloidal stability parameters (Tonset, Tm, Tagg) alongside affinity measurements (KD) can identify optimized antibodies
Developability profile maintenance: When optimizing antibodies, researchers should monitor for nonspecific binding, aggregation propensity, and self-association to ensure the favorable developability profile is retained
Advanced computational-experimental workflows that don't require prior knowledge of the antibody-antigen interface have shown success in affinity enhancement by 5-21 fold while simultaneously improving thermostability by >2.5°C .
For researchers seeking to identify and characterize protein targets of antibodies:
Protein target identification protocol:
Enrich adducted proteins using immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies
Process for mass spectrometric analysis
Analyze with nanoLC-MS/MS systems coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometers
Process raw data with converters like MSDataConverter in .mgf peak list format
Interpret MS/MS data using algorithms like MASCOT against relevant databases (UniProtKB/SwissProt)
Database selection: When identifying proteins, use appropriate database subsets (e.g., human, rat, or bovine) from comprehensive databases like Uniref100
False discovery rate calculation: Calculate and report false discovery rates for protein identification to ensure reliability
Differential modifications: Allow for specific modifications during database searches, such as carbamidomethylation of cysteines and oxidation of methionines
This approach has been successfully used to identify specific protein targets in complex biological samples and can be adapted for ACADL-related studies .
Machine learning approaches for antibody optimization are increasingly valuable:
Model development approach:
Use data-driven model design with expert-engineered features
Incorporate both sequence-based features and structural information when available
Apply 5-fold cross-validation to optimize hyperparameters and increase model regularization
Test performance on out-of-distribution (OOD) validation datasets to ensure generalizability
Integration with experimental workflow:
Performance metrics:
Complementary approaches:
This methodological approach has proven effective for optimizing antibodies against challenging targets, including variants of rapidly evolving pathogens .
When investigating ACADL function across different cell types:
Gene manipulation strategies:
For ACADL overexpression: Utilize lentiviral vectors carrying the full-length open reading frame with appropriate MOI (~20)
For ACADL knockout: Implement CRISPR/Cas9 KO plasmids with lipofectamine 2000 transfection
For rescue experiments: Transfect pcDNA 3.1 plasmids containing the full-length ACADL open reading frame
Cell culture conditions:
Experimental timing:
Control selection:
These design considerations ensure reliable and reproducible results when studying ACADL function in experimental systems.
When developing or optimizing ELISA assays for ACADL:
Assay principle selection: ACADL ELISA kits typically apply the competitive enzyme immunoassay technique, utilizing monoclonal anti-ACADL antibodies and ACADL-HRP conjugates
Protocol optimization:
Interpretation considerations:
Standard curve development:
Validation controls:
This methodological approach ensures accurate quantification of ACADL in research samples.