ADCK5 (aarF domain containing kinase 5) is a membrane-localized protein with significant roles in protein phosphorylation pathways. In humans, the canonical ADCK5 protein consists of 580 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of approximately 65.8 kDa . It belongs to the ADCK protein kinase family and is widely expressed across numerous tissue types, making it an important target for various research applications .
The protein is also known by the synonym "uncharacterized aarF domain-containing protein kinase 5" and has documented orthologs in multiple species including mouse, rat, bovine, frog, zebrafish, chimpanzee, and chicken . This evolutionary conservation suggests functionally significant roles across vertebrate species.
| Application | Common Uses | Special Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | Protein detection and quantification | Optimization of membrane transfer conditions for this 65.8 kDa protein |
| ELISA | Quantitative analysis in solution | Careful selection of coating and blocking reagents |
| Immunofluorescence | Subcellular localization studies | Membrane permeabilization protocols may require optimization |
| Immunohistochemistry | Tissue expression patterns | Antigen retrieval methods should be validated for each tissue type |
When designing experiments, researchers should consider that ADCK5's membrane localization may require specific sample preparation techniques to ensure optimal antibody accessibility .
Selection criteria should include:
Target epitope location: N-terminal vs. C-terminal vs. middle region antibodies may yield different results depending on protein interactions or post-translational modifications .
Species reactivity: Verify cross-reactivity with your experimental model organism. Many available antibodies react with human ADCK5, while others demonstrate reactivity with mouse or rat orthologs .
Clonality considerations: Polyclonal antibodies may provide higher sensitivity but potentially lower specificity compared to monoclonal options.
Validated applications: Ensure the antibody has been specifically validated for your intended application (WB, ELISA, IF, IHC) through manufacturer documentation or literature citations .
Conjugation requirements: Determine whether unconjugated antibodies are sufficient or if conjugated versions (biotin, FITC, HRP, etc.) would benefit your experimental design .
A rigorous validation approach should incorporate multiple methods:
Positive and negative controls: Utilize tissues or cell lines with known ADCK5 expression levels. Consider knockout or knockdown models as negative controls.
Pre-absorption testing: Pre-incubate antibody with purified ADCK5 protein prior to application, which should eliminate specific staining.
Multiple antibody comparison: Employ antibodies targeting different epitopes of ADCK5 to confirm consistent detection patterns.
Molecular weight verification: Confirm detection at the expected 65.8 kDa molecular weight in Western blot applications .
Cross-reactivity assessment: Evaluate potential cross-reactivity with other ADCK family members, particularly in systems where multiple family members are expressed.
Successful immunohistochemical detection of ADCK5 requires tailored approaches:
Fixation optimization: Compare paraformaldehyde, formalin, and alcohol-based fixatives to determine optimal epitope preservation.
Antigen retrieval techniques:
Heat-induced epitope retrieval using citrate buffer (pH 6.0) often provides good results for membrane proteins
Enzymatic retrieval using proteinase K may be necessary for heavily fixed tissues
Test both methods to determine optimal conditions for ADCK5 detection
Blocking parameters: Given ADCK5's widespread expression, optimizing blocking conditions is critical to reduce background:
Use 3-5% normal serum from the species in which the secondary antibody was raised
Include 0.1-0.3% Triton X-100 for membrane permeabilization
Consider adding 1% BSA to reduce non-specific binding
Signal amplification: For tissues with lower ADCK5 expression, consider biotin-streptavidin amplification systems or tyramide signal amplification .
When investigating ADCK5 interactions, consider these methodological approaches:
Co-immunoprecipitation optimization:
Use membrane-compatible lysis buffers containing 0.5-1% NP-40 or Triton X-100
Include phosphatase inhibitors to preserve potential phosphorylation-dependent interactions
Consider crosslinking approaches for transient interactions
Proximity labeling techniques:
BioID or APEX2 fusion constructs can reveal the proximal interactome of membrane-localized ADCK5
Design constructs carefully to avoid disrupting membrane localization
Mass spectrometry sample preparation:
Implement specialized membrane protein extraction protocols
Consider sequential extraction methods to separate cytosolic from membrane-bound interaction partners
Controls for specificity:
Include IgG controls matched to the host species of your ADCK5 antibody
Use ADCK5-depleted samples as negative controls
Antibody performance varies considerably across applications, and researchers should consider:
| Application | Performance Considerations | Troubleshooting Approaches |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | Sample denaturation may affect epitope recognition | Test reducing vs. non-reducing conditions |
| ELISA | Coating efficiency impacts sensitivity | Optimize antibody concentration and incubation times |
| Immunofluorescence | Fixation methods impact membrane protein epitopes | Compare methanol vs. paraformaldehyde fixation |
| Immunohistochemistry | Tissue processing affects epitope accessibility | Modify antigen retrieval duration and temperature |
Researchers should conduct pilot studies with positive controls to optimize conditions for each specific application .
Non-specific binding is a common challenge when working with membrane protein antibodies:
Increase blocking stringency:
Extend blocking time to 2 hours at room temperature
Test alternative blocking agents (milk vs. BSA vs. serum)
Consider commercial blocking buffers specifically designed for membrane proteins
Optimize antibody concentration:
Perform titration experiments to determine minimal effective concentration
Extended incubation at 4°C with lower antibody concentration may improve signal-to-noise ratio
Modify washing protocols:
Increase washing duration and/or number of washes
Add low concentrations of detergent (0.05-0.1% Tween-20) to wash buffers
Pre-adsorption strategies:
Pre-incubate antibody with tissues/cells known to lack ADCK5 expression
For polyclonal antibodies, consider affinity purification against the immunizing peptide
Since ADCK5 is involved in protein phosphorylation pathways, studying its own modifications requires:
Phosphorylation-specific approaches:
Use phosphatase inhibitors in all extraction buffers
Consider phosphorylation-specific antibodies if available
Implement Phos-tag SDS-PAGE to separate phosphorylated from non-phosphorylated species
Sample preparation optimization:
Rapid sample processing minimizes phosphatase activity
Use caution with heat denaturation, which may affect phosphorylation detection
Consider kinase activation or inhibition treatments to validate phosphorylation sites
Mass spectrometry approaches:
Enrich for phosphopeptides using titanium dioxide or IMAC
Implement parallel reaction monitoring for targeted detection of predicted modification sites
Use isotope labeling to compare modification states between experimental conditions
Multiplexed approaches enable simultaneous detection of ADCK5 with interacting partners or pathway components:
Multi-color immunofluorescence:
Select primary antibodies from different host species
Use highly cross-absorbed secondary antibodies to prevent cross-reactivity
Implement spectral unmixing for channels with potential overlap
Sequential immunoblotting:
Carefully optimize stripping conditions to remove previous antibodies without affecting membrane-bound proteins
Consider using different detection methods (chemiluminescence vs. fluorescence) for multiplexing
Multiplex flow cytometry:
Utilize directly conjugated antibodies with non-overlapping fluorophores
Include appropriate compensation controls
Consider permeabilization optimization for this membrane protein
For accurate quantification of ADCK5 levels:
Western blot densitometry considerations:
Use loading controls appropriate for membrane proteins (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, cadherin)
Establish linear range of detection with standard curves
Apply statistical approaches appropriate for ratio data
qPCR method optimization:
Design primers spanning exon junctions to avoid genomic DNA amplification
Validate primer efficiency using standard curves
Select reference genes with stable expression across your experimental conditions
Mass spectrometry quantification:
Implement labeled reference peptides for absolute quantification
Consider parallel reaction monitoring for improved sensitivity
Develop extraction methods optimized for membrane proteins
Adapting ADCK5 detection to single-cell methodologies requires:
Single-cell immunofluorescence optimization:
Titrate antibody concentration to minimize background
Implement image analysis algorithms to quantify membrane localization
Consider super-resolution microscopy techniques for detailed localization studies
Mass cytometry (CyTOF) adaptation:
Metal-conjugated antibodies require validation for epitope accessibility
Optimize cell fixation and permeabilization for membrane protein detection
Develop analysis pipelines that account for ADCK5's expression patterns
Single-cell Western approaches:
Modify lysis conditions for efficient release of membrane-bound ADCK5
Optimize protein separation parameters based on ADCK5's molecular weight
Validate detection sensitivity with control cell populations
When implementing genome editing approaches:
Guide RNA design strategies:
Target functional domains predicted from sequence analysis
Avoid regions with known splice variants to ensure complete knockout
Consider targeting conserved regions for cross-species studies
Validation methodology:
Implement Western blot with antibodies targeting different epitopes to confirm knockout
Design PCR strategies to verify genomic modifications
Sequence the targeted region to confirm precise editing
Functional rescue experiments:
Design expression constructs resistant to guide RNA targeting
Consider tagged versions for distinguishing endogenous from exogenous protein
Implement inducible expression systems to control rescue timing