The Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) Antibody is a polyclonal or recombinant antibody designed to detect acetylation at lysine 115 (K115) of histone H3.1, a variant of the histone H3 family. Acetylation at this site is an epigenetic modification linked to chromatin remodeling, transcriptional activation, and cellular processes such as differentiation and stress response .
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Target | Acetylated lysine 115 on HIST1H3A (Histone H3.1) |
| Host | Rabbit (polyclonal) or recombinant monoclonal (varies by vendor) |
| Immunogen | Synthetic peptide containing Acetyl-K115 from human HIST1H3A |
| Reactivity | Human (validated); predicted for other species (e.g., canine) |
| Applications | Western blotting (WB), immunocytochemistry (ICC), ELISA, immunofluorescence (IF) |
| Product Promise | Covered by vendor guarantees (e.g., Abcam, Biomatik) |
Abcam’s ab240888 shows robust signal in lysates from human cell lines (HeLa, HEK-293, A549, K562) treated with sodium butyrate, with untreated controls serving as negative controls .
| Cell Line | Treatment | Band Intensity | Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| HeLa | + Sodium butyrate | Strong (15 kDa) | Untreated (-) |
| HEK-293 | + Sodium butyrate | Strong (15 kDa) | Untreated (-) |
| A549 | + Sodium butyrate | Moderate (15 kDa) | Untreated (-) |
Biomatik’s CAC12903 and CAC12821 are validated for ICC, with protocols involving fixation, permeabilization, and biotinylated secondary detection .
Abbexa’s antibody is tested for ELISA and IF/ICC, though specific optimization details are not disclosed .
While no direct cross-reactivity data is reported for K115 acetyl antibodies, general pitfalls in histone PTM antibodies include:
Validation via Peptide Microarrays: Assess antibody specificity for K115 acetylation using platforms like those described in Rothbart et al. .
ChIP-Seq Integration: Validate genomic binding patterns in cell lines with known acetylation profiles (e.g., sodium butyrate-treated vs. untreated).
Cross-reactivity Testing: Screen against acetylated peptides at nearby lysines (e.g., K114, K116) to exclude off-target binding .
What is Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) and why is it significant in epigenetic research?
Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) refers to histone H3.1 protein that has been acetylated at lysine 115. Histone H3.1 is a core component of nucleosomes, which wrap and compact DNA into chromatin. Nucleosomes consist of 147 base pairs of DNA wrapped around an octamer of core histone proteins (two each of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4) .
This specific acetylation represents one of many post-translational modifications that constitute the "histone code" and plays crucial roles in regulating DNA accessibility. Core histone proteins are central to transcription regulation, DNA repair, DNA replication, and chromosomal stability . Acetylation neutralizes the positive charge of lysine residues, potentially weakening histone-DNA interactions and creating a more accessible chromatin structure.
Studying specific acetylation patterns at K115 provides valuable insights into how this particular modification contributes to gene regulation and chromatin organization within specific genomic contexts. This knowledge enhances our understanding of both normal cellular processes and disease mechanisms involving epigenetic dysregulation.
What applications are appropriate for Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) antibodies?
Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) antibodies can be utilized in various experimental applications:
| Application | Recommended Dilution | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blotting (WB) | 1:100-1:1000 | |
| Immunocytochemistry (ICC) | 1:1-1:10 | |
| ELISA | Varies by kit |
These antibodies can be used to detect and quantify the presence of Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) in cell lysates through Western blotting, visualize its cellular distribution through immunocytochemistry, and perform quantitative analysis through ELISA .
While not specifically mentioned for K115 antibodies in the search results, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) represents another common application for histone modification antibodies. ChIP allows researchers to identify genomic regions associated with specific histone modifications, and can be combined with DNA microarrays or next-generation sequencing for genome-wide analyses . This technique has revolutionized our ability to study the distribution of histone modifications across the genome.
How do I verify the specificity of an Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) antibody?
Antibody specificity is crucial for reliable experimental results. Several approaches can verify specificity of Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) antibodies:
Peptide competition assay: Incubate the antibody with a synthetic peptide containing acetylated K115 before experimentation. If the antibody is specific, the peptide should block binding to the target epitope, resulting in signal reduction.
Histone mutant screening: Test the antibody against histones with mutations at K115 to confirm it doesn't bind when the target site is altered. As noted in search result , "ELISA does not assure antibody specificity in chromatin immunoprecipitation," making additional validation through histone mutations essential.
Multiple antibody approach: Use several antibodies targeting the same modification but recognizing different epitopes to corroborate findings.
Western blotting: Confirm the antibody detects a band of appropriate size (approximately 15-17 kDa for histone H3.1) .
Mass spectrometry validation: Confirm acetylation at K115 in immunoprecipitated samples through mass spectrometry analysis.
Rigorous validation is particularly important for epigenetic studies, as cross-reactivity with other histone modifications can lead to misinterpretation of results and irreproducible findings.
What are the best protocols for Western blotting with Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) antibodies?
Based on protocols used for similar histone acetylation antibodies, the following recommendations apply for Western blotting with Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) antibodies:
Sample preparation: Extract histones carefully using acid extraction or commercial histone extraction kits. For whole cell lysates, 30 μg of protein per lane is typically sufficient .
Gel preparation: Use a 12-15% SDS-PAGE gel to achieve good separation of histones (15-17 kDa) .
Electrophoresis conditions: Run at 80V through stacking gel, then 120V through resolving gel for approximately 2 hours .
Transfer: Transfer proteins to nitrocellulose membrane at 150 mA for 50-90 minutes .
Blocking: Block membrane with 5% non-fat milk in TBS for 1.5 hours at room temperature .
Primary antibody: Dilute Acetyl-HIST1H3A (K115) antibody 1:100-1:1000 in blocking buffer and incubate overnight at 4°C .
Washing: Wash membrane with TBS-0.1% Tween, 3 times for 5 minutes each .
Secondary antibody: Use appropriate HRP-conjugated secondary antibody (typically anti-rabbit IgG if primary antibody is rabbit-derived) .
Detection: Develop signal using ECL substrate and appropriate imaging system .
Optimization may be necessary for your specific experimental system, as antibody performance can vary between lots and manufacturers.
How does acetylation at K115 compare to other histone H3 acetylation sites?
While the search results don't provide specific information about functional differences between K115 acetylation and other sites, some inferences can be made from related research:
Acetylation of histone H3.1 at lysine 14 (K14) is known to function in "transcriptional activation, chromatin accessibility, cellular identity, epigenetic memory, and coordinated gene regulation" . Different acetylation sites often have distinct functional roles and may be regulated by specific enzymes.
A study using highly specific antibodies against various histone acetylation sites in yeast found that "telomeric and silent mating locus heterochromatin is hypoacetylated at all histone sites" . Additionally, different histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases affected specific acetylation sites differently. For example, "RPD3 is required for strongly deacetylating all sites except H4 K16, ESA1 for acetylating H2A, H2B, and H4 sites except H4 K16, and GCN5 for acetylating H2B and H3 sites except H3 K14" .
To determine the specific functional importance of K115 acetylation, comparative studies using antibodies targeting different acetylation sites, along with functional assays to assess impacts on transcription and chromatin structure, would be necessary.