CCDC22 antibodies are specialized immunological tools designed to detect and study the coiled-coil domain-containing protein 22 (CCDC22), a regulator of NF-κB signaling and endosomal protein sorting . These antibodies enable researchers to investigate CCDC22's interactions with COMMD proteins, its role in IκB ubiquitination, and its clinical associations with genetic disorders like Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome .
CCDC22 antibodies have been instrumental in elucidating the protein’s interaction with COMMD family members to regulate IκB degradation:
Mechanistic Insight: CCDC22 deficiency in patient-derived cells destabilizes COMMD protein localization, impairing IκB ubiquitination and NF-κB activation .
Key Interaction: Coimmunoprecipitation studies using CCDC22 antibodies confirmed its binding to all 10 COMMD proteins, forming a complex critical for inflammatory responses .
CCDC22 antibodies validated its role in the COMMD/CCDC22/CCDC93 (CCC) complex, which regulates endosomal phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) levels essential for protein recycling .
CCDC22 dysfunction, detectable via antibody-based assays, is linked to:
Ritscher-Schinzel Syndrome: Characterized by craniofacial anomalies and intellectual disability .
X-Linked Intellectual Disability (XLID): Hypomorphic CCDC22 mutations reduce mRNA levels, correlating with ectodermal dysplasia and immune dysregulation .
Titration: Optimal dilutions vary by sample type (e.g., 1:2000 for HEK-293 cells vs. 1:500 for tissue lysates) .
Buffer Compatibility: Most antibodies contain 0.02% sodium azide, requiring adherence to safety protocols .
Molecular Weight: CCDC22 migrates at ~71 kDa in SDS-PAGE, confirmed across human, mouse, and rat samples .
Current research gaps include:
CCDC22 is a ubiquitously expressed coiled-coil domain protein involved in multiple cellular functions, including regulation of NF-kappa-B signaling, endosomal recycling of surface proteins, and copper ion homeostasis. It has gained significant research interest due to its association with X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) and its role in the CCC complex, which prevents lysosomal degradation of numerous cargo proteins . Its expression in multiple brain regions, including prefrontal and somatosensory cortex, dentate gyrus, and thalamus, makes it relevant for neuroscience research .
Most commercially available CCDC22 antibodies demonstrate reactivity with human, mouse, and rat samples . Some antibodies show predicted reactivity with additional species based on sequence homology analysis. For example, some CCDC22 antibodies may cross-react with bovine samples due to sequence homology . When selecting an antibody, researchers should verify the validated species reactivity in the product documentation and consider the degree of sequence homology if working with non-validated species .
CCDC22 antibodies are validated for multiple applications including:
Western Blotting (WB): Typically at dilutions of 1:500-1:2000
Immunoprecipitation (IP): Using 0.5-4.0 μg for 1.0-3.0 mg of total protein lysate
Immunocytochemistry/Immunofluorescence (ICC/IF): Validated in various cell types
Immunohistochemistry (IHC-P): For analysis of CCDC22 expression in tissue sections
Co-Immunoprecipitation (CoIP): For studying protein-protein interactions
| Application | Typical Dilution Range | Validated Sample Types |
|---|---|---|
| Western Blot | 1:500-1:2000 | Human brain tissue, HEK-293, HepG2, mouse/rat tissues, HeLa, Jurkat cells |
| Immunoprecipitation | 0.5-4.0 μg per 1-3 mg lysate | Mouse lung tissue |
| ICC/IF | Varies by antibody | Human cell lines |
| IHC-P | 1:500-1:1000 | Human and rodent tissues |
For optimal Western blot detection of CCDC22 (observed molecular weight: 71-72 kDa), consider these methodological approaches:
Sample preparation: Use fresh tissues or cells and include protease inhibitors in lysis buffers to prevent degradation
Gel selection: Use 8-10% gels for optimal resolution around 70 kDa
Transfer conditions: Employ wet transfer for proteins of this size (71 kDa)
Blocking: Use 5% BSA in TBST to reduce background (as used in validation studies)
Antibody dilution: Begin with manufacturer's recommended dilution (typically 1:1000 for WB), then optimize as needed
Controls: Include positive controls from validated tissues (e.g., human brain tissue, HEK-293 cells) and negative controls where possible
Troubleshooting tip: If multiple bands appear, optimize primary antibody concentration and incubation time, as CCDC22 antibodies may detect degradation products or splice variants.
Comprehensive validation strategies should include:
Knockout/knockdown controls: Use CCDC22 knockdown/knockout samples as negative controls, which has been documented in published applications
Peptide competition assay: Pre-incubate the antibody with immunizing peptide to confirm specificity
Multiple antibody approach: Compare results using antibodies targeting different epitopes (e.g., N-terminal vs. C-terminal regions)
Immunogen sequence analysis: Verify the immunogen sequence does not have significant homology with other proteins in your experimental system
Cross-species validation: If working with non-validated species, perform parallel experiments with validated species samples
The CCC complex (containing CCDC22, CCDC93, and C16orf62) regulates endosomal trafficking and recycling of surface proteins. To investigate this complex:
Co-immunoprecipitation: Use CCDC22 antibodies for CoIP to pull down associated complex members and detect interactions with components like SNX17, retriever complex, and WASH complex proteins
Confocal microscopy: Perform co-localization studies using CCDC22 antibodies alongside markers for early endosomes, trans-Golgi network, and vesicles to visualize trafficking patterns
Proximity ligation assay: Detect in situ protein-protein interactions between CCDC22 and other complex components
Live-cell imaging: Combine with fluorescently tagged trafficking markers to analyze dynamics of CCDC22-positive structures
Functional assays: Monitor trafficking of known cargo proteins (e.g., integrins ITGA5:ITGB1) in the presence/absence of CCDC22
CCDC22's involvement in copper-dependent ATP7A trafficking between the trans-Golgi network and cell periphery can be studied through:
Copper challenge experiments: Treat cells with varying copper concentrations and monitor CCDC22-dependent ATP7A localization changes using immunofluorescence
Proximity labeling approaches: Apply BioID or APEX2 fused to CCDC22 to identify proximal proteins involved in copper homeostasis
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing: Create point mutations in CCDC22 domains important for CCC complex formation and assess effects on copper transport
Quantitative copper measurements: Use inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure cellular copper levels in cells with modified CCDC22 expression
Structure-function analysis: Generate domain-specific deletions and assess impacts on ATP7A trafficking and copper homeostasis
CCDC22 has been identified as a candidate gene for syndromic X-linked intellectual disability. For XLID research:
Patient-derived samples: Compare CCDC22 expression levels in lymphoblast cell lines from XLID patients versus age-matched controls using western blotting and standardized quantification
Brain region analysis: Use immunohistochemistry with CCDC22 antibodies on post-mortem brain tissue sections to examine expression patterns in regions associated with intellectual disability
Mutation impact assessment: Generate cell models expressing XLID-associated CCDC22 variants and analyze protein expression, stability, and localization
Protein interaction network analysis: Perform immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry to identify alterations in CCDC22 protein interactions caused by disease-associated mutations
Animal models: Validate findings using CCDC22 mutant mouse models that recapitulate XLID features
| Clinical Feature | Frequency in XLID with CCDC22 Mutations | Suggested Experimental Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Intellectual disability | Present in all affected individuals | Cognitive testing in animal models, neuronal culture studies |
| Cardiac abnormalities | ASD, VSD, dextrocardia reported | Cardiac-specific conditional knockouts, echocardiography |
| Skeletal abnormalities | Hypoplastic distal phalanges, syndactyly, hip subluxation, scoliosis | Skeletal staining, micro-CT analysis |
| Facial dysmorphisms | Characteristic features reported | Morphometric analysis, craniofacial development studies |
CCDC22 has dual roles in NF-κB signaling - both promoting and inhibiting activation through different mechanisms:
Stimulus-specific analysis: Compare CCDC22 involvement in different NF-κB activation pathways using pathway-specific stimuli and readouts
COMMD protein interactions: Investigate differential interactions between CCDC22 and COMMD family proteins (COMMD1 vs. COMMD8) using co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays
Ubiquitination studies: Analyze IKBKB ubiquitination and degradation in the presence/absence of CCDC22 or with disease-associated mutations
CUL-dependent E3 ligase complex analysis: Examine how CCDC22 influences the assembly and activity of CUL1 vs. CUL2-dependent complexes
Reporter assays: Use NF-κB reporter systems to quantify pathway activity with wild-type vs. mutant CCDC22
Chromatin Antibody-mediated Methylating Protein (ChAMP) technology offers a novel approach for studying protein-DNA interactions. For CCDC22 research:
ChAMP adaptation: Utilize the GpC methyltransferase fusion with protein G to tether to CCDC22 antibodies, enabling detection of CCDC22-proximal DNA regions
Protocol optimization: Adapt fixation conditions (0.1-1% formaldehyde for 5 minutes) followed by heating (65°C for 10 minutes) to maximize enzymatic activity while preserving protein-DNA interactions
Single-molecule analysis: Apply nanopore sequencing to identify methylation patterns from individual DNA molecules, revealing heterogeneity in CCDC22 binding patterns
Input minimization: Scale down ChAMP protocols to analyze CCDC22 from limited cell numbers (<100 cells), following post-amplification enrichment strategies
Multiomic integration: Combine ChAMP-seq data with RNA-seq and proteomics to correlate CCDC22 chromatin associations with transcriptional and protein-level outcomes
When addressing contradictory findings in CCDC22 research:
Context-dependent activity: Design experiments to test if CCDC22 functions differ across cell types, developmental stages, or disease states
Isoform-specific analysis: Verify which CCDC22 isoforms are expressed in your experimental system and design isoform-specific detection strategies
Post-translational modifications: Investigate how phosphorylation or other modifications might switch CCDC22 between activating and inhibitory roles
Complex composition analysis: Determine how the composition of CCDC22-containing complexes (with different COMMD proteins or cullin-dependent E3 ligases) affects function
Methodological reconciliation: When contradictory findings emerge, systematically analyze differences in experimental approaches, antibody epitopes, and detection methods