BUB1B (also termed BubR1) is a spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) kinase that ensures accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis by delaying anaphase until all chromosomes are properly attached to microtubules . Dysregulation of BUB1B is linked to cancer progression, drug resistance, and accelerated aging .
The BUB1B antibody enables researchers to:
Quantify protein expression levels in tissues/cells via Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) .
Investigate protein-protein interactions through immunoprecipitation (IP) .
Study its role in chromosomal instability (CIN) and therapeutic resistance .
Elevated Expression: BUB1B mRNA and protein levels are significantly higher in LUAD tumors compared to adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.05) .
Functional Impact:
Proliferation Driver: BUB1B overexpression increased MM cell proliferation by promoting G2/M phase transition (P < 0.001) .
Drug Resistance: BUB1B-induced chromosomal instability reduced sensitivity to bortezomib and doxorubicin .
BUB1B expression negatively correlates with activated CD8+ T cells (rho = -0.146) and macrophages (rho = -0.347) in EC, suggesting immunosuppressive roles .
Associated with immunomodulators like TGFB1 (rho = -0.272) and LGALS9 (rho = -0.319) .
Ferroptosis Resistance: BUB1B upregulation in LUAD promotes resistance to ferroptosis-inducing therapies .
Targeting Potential: Preclinical studies show that BUB1B inhibition enhances chemotherapy sensitivity .
Validation: Always confirm antibody specificity using knockout/knockdown controls .
Sample Preparation: Use fresh tissue lysates with protease/phosphatase inhibitors to preserve phosphorylation-dependent epitopes .
Multiplex Staining: Combine with markers like Ki-67 or γH2AX for cell cycle or DNA damage studies .
BUB1B antibodies are widely used in multiple applications including:
| Application | Common Dilution Range | Key Experimental Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot (WB) | 1:500-1:2000 | Human and mouse cell lines, tissue lysates |
| Immunohistochemistry (IHC) | 1:250-1:1000 | FFPE tissues, particularly cancer specimens |
| Immunofluorescence (IF/ICC) | 1:50-1:500 | Cancer cell lines, primary cells |
| ELISA | Assay-dependent | Various biological samples |
These applications enable researchers to detect BUB1B expression patterns in various experimental systems, with particularly strong validation in cell lines such as HeLa, K-562, SKOV-3, A-549, MCF7, and DU145 .
For optimal IHC results with BUB1B antibodies:
Use antigen retrieval with TE buffer pH 9.0 as the primary method
Alternatively, citrate buffer pH 6.0 can be used if results are suboptimal
Begin with a dilution range of 1:250-1:1000 and titrate for your specific tissue
Human cervical and colon cancer tissues serve as reliable positive controls
Include negative controls (isotype controls or tissues known to lack BUB1B expression)
Recent studies have successfully used these protocols to demonstrate that BUB1B protein levels are significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma tissues compared to normal tissues, correlating with tumor stage, recurrence rate, and distant metastasis .
BUB1B appears at 120-130 kDa on Western blots, which aligns with its calculated molecular weight of 120 kDa (1050 amino acids) . When optimizing Western blot protocols:
Use appropriate positive controls (K-562 cells, HeLa cells, human or mouse testis tissue)
Start with antibody dilutions of 1:500-1:1000
Be aware that post-translational modifications may cause slight variations in migration patterns
Monitor for potential degradation products, especially in samples with high protease activity
The observed molecular weight (120-130 kDa) is consistent across multiple validated antibodies .
Based on published methodologies, effective BUB1B knockdown experiments should:
Test multiple siRNAs targeting different regions of BUB1B mRNA to identify the most efficient options
Quantify knockdown efficiency by both:
Western blotting (aim for >25-fold depletion of protein)
Immunofluorescence at kinetochores (aim for 150-200 fold reduction)
Use histone-H2B-GFP expressing cells for live-cell imaging to monitor chromosome movement
Include proper controls (non-targeting siRNA)
Measure key mitotic events:
Nuclear breakdown time
Chromosome congression time
Anaphase onset
Importantly, even low levels of kinetochore-localized BUB1B (2-5% of wild type) are sufficient to sustain a Mad2-dependent checkpoint response while still leading to chromosome misalignment . This underscores the importance of thorough validation of knockdown efficiency.
For cancer research applications, rigorous experimental design should include:
Expression controls:
Positive controls: Cell lines with known high BUB1B expression (HeLa, A-549, SK-LU-1)
Negative controls: Normal human bronchial epithelial cells (e.g., 16HBE)
Knockdown/knockout validation using siRNA or CRISPR/Cas9
Technical validations:
Confirm specificity by showing absence of signal following BUB1B knockdown
Verify signal in multiple cell lines and tissue types
Use multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes when possible
Functional validation:
Complement antibody detection with functional assays (proliferation, migration, invasion)
Correlate protein levels with clinical parameters and survival data
Studies have shown that knockdown of BUB1B results in significant inhibition of LUAD cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, which can be demonstrated through CCK-8 assays, colony formation, EDU/DAPI staining, transwell chambers, and wound-healing assays .
To accurately track BUB1B localization throughout mitosis:
Imaging approaches:
Use 3D deconvolution microscopy for high-resolution imaging
Apply CREST antisera as a kinetochore reference marker (constant through cell cycle)
Implement live-cell imaging with fluorescently-tagged BUB1B for real-time dynamics
Quantification methods:
Normalize BUB1B intensity to CREST signal for accurate comparisons between stages
Measure fluorescence intensity at individual kinetochores (≥10 kinetochores per cell)
Compare intensities across different mitotic phases (prometaphase vs. metaphase)
Co-localization analysis:
Examine co-localization with other spindle checkpoint proteins (Mad1, Mad2, BubR1)
Assess relationship with microtubule attachment status using tubulin co-staining
Research has demonstrated that BUB1B localization patterns change dramatically depending on chromosome alignment and microtubule attachment status, with unaligned chromatids in BUB1B-depleted cells showing distinctive kinetochore morphology (flattened crescents spaced ~0.9 μm apart) .
Contradictory findings regarding BUB1B localization and function may result from:
Experimental variables to consider:
Incomplete protein depletion (even 2-5% of wild-type BUB1B levels can sustain checkpoint function)
Cell type-specific differences in BUB1B regulation
Variations in fixation and staining protocols affecting epitope accessibility
Differences in mitotic synchronization methods
Resolution strategies:
Carefully control for mitotic stage when comparing BUB1B localization
Quantify knockdown efficiency by both Western blot and immunofluorescence
Use multiple antibodies targeting different epitopes
Include direct comparison of experimental conditions from conflicting studies
For example, contradictory findings regarding Aurora B regulation of BUB1B localization have been reported. Some studies suggest Aurora B inhibition blocks kinetochore binding by BUB1B, while others show independent functioning. This discrepancy may be explained by variations in the extent of Aurora B inhibition and careful analysis of cell cycle stages .
Variability in BUB1B immunostaining across cancer tissues may result from:
Biological factors:
Tumor heterogeneity within and between patients
Cancer subtype-specific expression patterns
Genetic alterations affecting antibody epitopes
Stage-dependent changes in expression
Technical factors:
Tissue fixation methods and duration
Antigen retrieval conditions (pH 9.0 TE buffer vs. pH 6.0 citrate buffer)
Different antibody clones recognizing distinct epitopes
Variations in detection systems (DAB vs. fluorescent)
Studies have shown that BUB1B expression correlates with tumor stage, recurrence rate, and distant metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma patients . Therefore, standardizing scoring methods and incorporating clinical data are essential for meaningful interpretation.
When encountering discrepancies between BUB1B mRNA and protein levels:
Consider post-transcriptional regulation:
Assess microRNA regulation of BUB1B
Evaluate protein stability and half-life in your experimental system
Investigate post-translational modifications affecting protein stability
Technical validation approaches:
Compare results across multiple antibodies and detection methods
Validate RNA-seq findings with RT-qPCR
Perform polysome profiling to assess translation efficiency
Experimental strategies:
Combine techniques (e.g., RNA-FISH with IF) to analyze expression at single-cell level
Use protein degradation inhibitors to assess turnover rates
Implement pulse-chase experiments to measure protein half-life
Recent pan-cancer analyses have revealed consistent upregulation of BUB1B at both transcript and protein levels in most cancers , but individual samples may show discrepancies due to various regulatory mechanisms.
BUB1B expression shows significant correlation with clinical parameters:
For optimal correlation with clinical outcomes:
Use standardized scoring methods (H-score or percentage of positive cells)
Stratify patients by BUB1B expression levels (high vs. low)
Perform multivariate analysis adjusting for clinicopathological variables
Correlate with key oncogenic pathways activation
When investigating BUB1B's role in chemotherapy resistance:
Experimental design:
Generate stable BUB1B knockdown and overexpression cell lines
Test multiple chemotherapeutic agents at clinically relevant doses
Measure both short-term (viability) and long-term (clonogenic) responses
Evaluate BUB1B's relationship with known resistance mechanisms
Mechanistic investigations:
Assess BUB1B complex formation with OTUD3 and NRF2
Evaluate downstream NRF2 signaling pathway activation
Measure ferroptosis sensitivity in BUB1B-modulated cells
Test combination treatment strategies (e.g., chemotherapy plus ML385)
Recent research has revealed that BUB1B forms a complex with OTUD3 and NRF2, stabilizing the NRF2 signaling pathway to facilitate insensitivity to ferroptosis and chemotherapy. In mouse models, a combined strategy of ML385 targeting and chemotherapy achieved synergistic effects in BUB1B-overexpressing tumors .
For studying BUB1B protein interactions:
Antibody selection for immunoprecipitation:
Choose antibodies with validated IP applications
Consider epitope location (N-terminal vs. C-terminal)
Test multiple antibodies to identify optimal performance
Validate specificity using BUB1B-depleted lysates
Experimental conditions:
Optimize lysis buffers to preserve protein interactions
Consider cell synchronization to capture cell cycle-specific interactions
Include appropriate controls (IgG, input, knockout/knockdown samples)
Validate interactions using reciprocal co-IP approaches
Detection strategies:
Use antibodies against endogenous proteins when possible
For weak or transient interactions, consider crosslinking approaches
Validate key interactions with proximity ligation assays
Complement co-IP with GST pulldown or yeast two-hybrid approaches
Studies have identified important interactions between BUB1B and ZNF143 in LUAD cells, as well as complex formation with OTUD3 and NRF2 affecting chemotherapy sensitivity . These findings highlight the importance of studying BUB1B's protein interaction network.
For single-cell applications of BUB1B antibodies:
Technical optimization:
Validate antibody specificity at single-cell resolution
Optimize staining protocols for flow cytometry and CyTOF
Develop multiplexing strategies with other cell cycle markers
Establish quantitative imaging workflows for spatial context
Analysis approaches:
Correlate BUB1B expression with cell cycle phases
Identify distinct cellular subpopulations based on BUB1B levels
Map BUB1B expression to tumor spatial architecture
Integrate with single-cell transcriptomics data
Biological questions to address:
How does BUB1B expression vary within tumor regions?
Does BUB1B heterogeneity correlate with proliferative capacity?
Is BUB1B expression associated with particular cancer stem cell markers?
How does chromosome instability vary with BUB1B expression at single-cell level?
Single-cell analysis could help resolve conflicting findings regarding BUB1B's role in various cancers by revealing population heterogeneity not captured in bulk analyses.
To comprehensively study chromosome instability mechanisms:
Multiplexed immunofluorescence approaches:
Combine BUB1B with kinetochore markers (CENP-A, Hec1)
Include spindle checkpoint proteins (Mad1, Mad2, Bub3)
Add chromosome segregation markers (Aurora B, CENP-E)
Incorporate DNA damage response proteins (γH2AX, 53BP1)
Live-cell imaging strategies:
Use fluorescently-tagged BUB1B with H2B-RFP for chromosome tracking
Implement photoactivatable or photoswitchable fluorophores for dynamics
Apply FRET-based sensors to detect BUB1B activation states
Employ lattice light-sheet microscopy for high-resolution 4D imaging
Functional readouts:
Measure micronuclei formation as CIN indicator
Quantify lagging chromosomes and anaphase bridges
Assess mitotic duration and checkpoint robustness
Analyze aneuploidy by metaphase spreads or single-cell sequencing
Research has shown that depletion of BUB1B results in distinct chromosome alignment defects, with unaligned chromatids showing abnormal microtubule attachments that are distinct from those observed with other checkpoint protein depletions .
When combining BUB1B antibodies with CRISPR/Cas9 techniques:
Experimental design:
Design guide RNAs targeting different BUB1B functional domains
Create both knockout and knock-in cell lines (e.g., fluorescent tags)
Generate domain-specific deletions to map antibody epitopes
Implement inducible CRISPR systems for temporal control
Validation strategies:
Confirm editing efficiency by sequencing and protein expression
Verify antibody specificity using edited cell lines as controls
Assess off-target effects that might affect interpretation
Characterize phenotypic consequences of specific edits
Advanced applications:
Use BUB1B antibodies to validate endogenous tagging efficiency
Create reporter cell lines for BUB1B dynamics studies
Generate complementation systems with BUB1B variants
Implement CRISPR screens for BUB1B interaction partners
A study investigating BUB1B's role in prostate cancer used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate clones with the recurrent BUB1B variant c.1171_1173del. Interestingly, they were unable to obtain heterozygous clones with monoallelic gene-editing for this variant, suggesting potential fitness constraints .