Binds to the gp46-197 region of HTLV-1’s envelope protein, which mediates viral cell-to-cell transmission .
Recognizes a conserved epitope critical for viral entry, making it diagnostically valuable .
Antibody titers correlate directly with ATL severity:
Disease monitoring:
Mechanistic insights:
Risk stratification:
Treatment response:
ATL46 (Uniprot accession: Q9FL07) is a protein found in Arabidopsis thaliana, a small plant in the mustard family that serves as a model system for research in plant biology . It belongs to the ATL (Arabidopsis Tóxicos en Levadura) family of RING-H2 finger proteins that function as E3 ubiquitin ligases, involved in protein degradation pathways and various stress responses in plants. These proteins play critical roles in plant development and response to environmental stimuli.
The commercially available ATL46 antibody (e.g., CSB-PA875486XA01DOA) is a polyclonal antibody raised in rabbits against recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana ATL46 protein . It is purified using antigen affinity methods and supplied in liquid form. The storage buffer typically contains 50% glycerol, 0.01M PBS (pH 7.4), and 0.03% Proclin 300 as a preservative . The antibody has been validated for applications including ELISA and Western blotting.
ATL46 antibodies should be stored at -20°C or -80°C immediately upon receipt . It's crucial to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles as these can compromise antibody stability and activity. For working solutions, small aliquots should be prepared and stored separately to minimize freeze-thaw cycles. When handling the antibody, allow it to thaw completely at room temperature before use and mix gently to ensure homogeneity.
ATL46 antibodies are primarily validated for ELISA and Western blot applications . For Western blotting, these antibodies can detect denatured ATL46 protein, making them valuable for studying protein expression levels, molecular weight confirmation, and post-translational modifications. For ELISA, they enable quantitative detection of ATL46 in plant extracts. While not explicitly validated, these antibodies may also be suitable for immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry, though optimization would be necessary.
Optimal working dilutions for ATL46 antibodies vary by application and should be determined empirically for each experimental setup. Typically, initial testing ranges are:
| Application | Recommended Dilution Range | Optimization Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | 1:500 - 1:5000 | Start at 1:1000 and adjust based on signal intensity |
| ELISA | 1:1000 - 1:10000 | Perform checkerboard titration to determine optimal concentration |
| Immunohistochemistry | 1:100 - 1:500 | Begin with higher concentration and reduce if background is high |
| Immunoprecipitation | 1:50 - 1:200 | Higher concentrations typically needed than for detection methods |
Always include appropriate controls to validate specificity and minimize background signal.
For optimal ATL46 detection in plant tissues, consider the following protocol:
Harvest fresh Arabidopsis tissue (preferably 100-200 mg) and flash-freeze in liquid nitrogen
Grind tissue to a fine powder using a mortar and pestle while maintaining frozen state
Add extraction buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS) supplemented with protease inhibitor cocktail
Homogenize thoroughly and incubate on ice for 30 minutes with occasional vortexing
Centrifuge at 14,000 × g for 15 minutes at 4°C
Collect supernatant and quantify protein concentration using Bradford or BCA assay
For Western blot, add sample buffer and heat at 95°C for 5 minutes before loading
For membrane-associated proteins like ATL46, inclusion of appropriate detergents is crucial for solubilization and extraction efficiency.
Validating ATL46 antibody specificity is crucial for reliable experimental results. Consider implementing these approaches:
Genetic controls: Compare wild-type Arabidopsis with atl46 knockout/knockdown lines to confirm absence or reduction of signal in mutant lines
Blocking peptide experiment: Pre-incubate the antibody with excess immunizing peptide before application to samples; specific signals should be abolished
Recombinant protein detection: Use purified recombinant ATL46 protein as a positive control to confirm the correct molecular weight band
Mass spectrometry validation: Perform immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry to confirm identity of detected proteins
Signal reduction in RNAi experiments: Demonstrate correlation between reduced ATL46 mRNA levels and reduced protein signal
When multiple validation methods consistently support antibody specificity, confidence in experimental results increases substantially.
When performing Western blots with ATL46 antibodies, researchers commonly encounter several technical challenges:
| Issue | Possible Causes | Recommended Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| No visible signal | Insufficient protein, antibody degradation, incorrect secondary antibody | Increase protein loading, verify antibody activity with positive control, confirm secondary antibody compatibility |
| Multiple bands | Cross-reactivity, protein degradation, post-translational modifications | Increase antibody dilution, add protease inhibitors during extraction, compare with predicted molecular weight |
| High background | Insufficient blocking, excessive antibody concentration, poor membrane washing | Optimize blocking conditions, increase antibody dilution, extend washing steps |
| Variable results between replicates | Sample degradation, inconsistent transfer, variable loading | Prepare fresh samples, standardize transfer conditions, use loading controls |
For ATL46 specifically, its membrane association may require optimization of extraction conditions to ensure consistent solubilization and detection.
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) with ATL46 antibodies can reveal protein-protein interactions relevant to ATL46's biological function. For optimal results:
Use a gentler lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 0.5% NP-40) to preserve protein-protein interactions
Pre-clear lysate with Protein A/G beads to reduce non-specific binding
Incubate cleared lysate with ATL46 antibody (approximately 2-5 μg per mg of total protein) overnight at 4°C
Add pre-washed Protein A/G beads and incubate for 1-2 hours at 4°C with gentle rotation
Wash beads thoroughly (4-5 times) with wash buffer
Elute bound proteins with sample buffer for SDS-PAGE analysis
Analyze co-immunoprecipitated proteins by Western blot or mass spectrometry
Include appropriate controls such as IgG from the same species and lysate-only samples. For interactome studies, consider using stable isotope labeling approaches to distinguish true interactors from background proteins.
Understanding the differences between polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies is crucial for experimental planning:
| Characteristic | Polyclonal ATL46 Antibodies | Monoclonal ATL46 Antibodies |
|---|---|---|
| Epitope recognition | Multiple epitopes on ATL46 | Single epitope on ATL46 |
| Signal strength | Generally stronger due to multiple epitope binding | May have weaker signal but higher specificity |
| Batch-to-batch variation | Higher variability between lots | Consistent performance between lots |
| Suitability for denatured protein | Excellent for Western blotting | May have limited reactivity depending on epitope |
| Cross-reactivity | Potentially higher with related ATL family proteins | Typically more specific to ATL46 |
| Production timeframe | Shorter (weeks to months) | Longer (months) |
Currently, polyclonal antibodies are more commonly available for ATL46 . When selecting an antibody, consider your experimental requirements: for exploratory studies detecting ATL46 under various conditions, polyclonal antibodies offer flexibility; for highly specific detection or quantification, monoclonal antibodies may be preferable once available.
As ATL46 likely functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, investigating its role in ubiquitination pathways is a valuable research direction. Consider these methodological approaches:
Sequential immunoprecipitation: First immunoprecipitate with anti-ubiquitin antibodies, then probe with ATL46 antibodies (or vice versa) to detect ubiquitinated forms of ATL46 or its substrates
In vitro ubiquitination assays: Combine purified E1, E2, ATL46 (as E3), and ubiquitin with potential substrates, then detect ubiquitination using Western blotting
Proximity ligation assay (PLA): Use ATL46 antibodies in combination with antibodies against potential interaction partners to visualize protein-protein interactions in situ
Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC): Complement with genetic approaches to confirm interactions detected with antibody-based methods
Mass spectrometry of ATL46 complexes: Immunoprecipitate with ATL46 antibodies and identify interacting proteins by mass spectrometry
When studying dynamic processes like ubiquitination, include proteasome inhibitors (e.g., MG132) in your experimental design to stabilize otherwise rapidly degraded ubiquitinated proteins.
For accurate quantification of ATL46 expression:
Western blot quantification:
Use housekeeping proteins (e.g., actin, tubulin) as loading controls
Ensure signal is within linear range of detection
Use image analysis software (ImageJ, Image Lab) for densitometry
Normalize ATL46 band intensity to loading control
Include a standard curve of recombinant ATL46 for absolute quantification
ELISA quantification:
Develop a standard curve using recombinant ATL46 protein
Ensure sample dilutions fall within the linear range of the standard curve
Run technical triplicates to assess variability
Include negative controls from atl46 knockout plants if available
Statistical analysis:
Apply appropriate statistical tests based on experimental design
Report both biological and technical replication
Consider normalized relative quantities rather than absolute values when comparing between experiments
For time-course studies or treatments affecting global protein expression, multiple normalization controls should be used to ensure accurate interpretation.
ATL family proteins often play important roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Researchers can leverage ATL46 antibodies to:
Monitor expression changes: Track ATL46 protein levels during exposure to different stressors (drought, salinity, pathogens)
Identify tissue-specific responses: Use immunohistochemistry to localize ATL46 expression in different plant tissues under stress conditions
Characterize post-translational modifications: Detect changes in ATL46 phosphorylation, ubiquitination, or other modifications during stress responses
Identify stress-specific interaction partners: Perform co-immunoprecipitation under different stress conditions to map condition-specific protein complexes
Develop biosensors: Create antibody-based detection systems for monitoring plant stress in agricultural settings
These approaches can help elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to environmental challenges, potentially informing strategies for improving crop resilience.
When extending ATL46 antibody applications beyond Arabidopsis:
Sequence homology analysis: Compare ATL46 sequence between Arabidopsis and target species to assess potential cross-reactivity
Epitope conservation: Determine if the immunogenic region used to generate the antibody is conserved in the target species
Validation in new species: Always validate antibody reactivity in the new species using positive and negative controls
Optimization for tissue type: Different plant tissues may require modified extraction protocols for optimal results
Species-specific controls: Include appropriate controls from the target species rather than relying solely on Arabidopsis controls
A Western blot comparing Arabidopsis and the target species can provide initial evidence of cross-reactivity, which should be followed by more rigorous validation if the antibody will be used extensively in the new species.