Antibodies targeting Arabidopsis proteins are typically generated using recombinant protein approaches. For example, antibodies against proteins like PIN1 (At1g73590) and AXR1 (At1g05180) were raised by immunizing animals with antigenic peptide sequences derived from target proteins . Key steps include:
Antigen Selection: Bioinformatic analysis identifies unique antigenic regions to minimize cross-reactivity .
Antibody Purification: Affinity purification using recombinant proteins ensures specificity .
Validation: Western blotting and immunolocalization in mutant backgrounds confirm antibody reliability .
For "At4g15610 Antibody", similar protocols would apply. The hypothetical target protein (AGI code: At4g15610) would require sequence analysis to design immunogens, followed by immunization and purification (e.g., using KLH-conjugated peptides) .
If validated, the At4g15610 Antibody could be utilized in:
Protein Localization: Subcellular tracking via immunocytochemistry (e.g., as done for γ-COP and BiP in Arabidopsis) .
Functional Studies: Investigating roles in stress responses, akin to autophagy-related proteins in pathogen defense .
Protein Interaction Networks: Identifying binding partners through co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) .
Based on analogous studies , the antibody might exhibit the following properties:
| Parameter | Hypothetical Value |
|---|---|
| Target Protein | At4g15610 (unnamed protein) |
| Host Species | Rabbit or Sheep |
| Clonality | Polyclonal |
| Purification Method | Affinity (recombinant protein) |
| Applications | WB (1:2000), IP (5 µg/g tissue), ICC |
| Observed Molecular Mass | ~50 kDa (theoretical mass TBD) |
Cross-Reactivity: Antibodies against conserved domains may require stringent validation, as seen with AXR4 and PIN2 .
Post-Translational Modifications: Unexpected bands (e.g., higher molecular weight forms of AtLEA4-1) necessitate careful interpretation.
Availability: Commercial production would depend on demand, similar to Agrisera’s Anti-AGO4 (AS09 617) .
Collaborative validation through community efforts, as proposed for the CPIB antibody project , would enhance utility. Potential studies could explore At4g15610’s role in stress responses or development, leveraging techniques like protein microarrays or CRISPR mutants.
At4g15610 is a gene identifier in the model plant organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Antibodies against this protein are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and function within plant tissues. The At4g15610 protein can be studied as part of the broader effort to understand protein dynamics in Arabidopsis roots. Antibodies enable visualization of protein localization at subcellular, cellular, and tissue levels, which leads to better understanding of protein functions, roles in cell dynamics, protein-protein interactions, and regulatory networks . These insights are particularly valuable in the post-genomics era where integrative systems biology approaches are increasingly employed to model multi-cellular systems.
Several database identifiers exist for At4g15610 to facilitate cross-referencing across different biological databases:
| Database | Identifier |
|---|---|
| KEGG | ath:AT4G15610 |
| STRING | 3702.AT4G15610.1 |
| UniGene | At.24397 |
These identifiers allow researchers to access comprehensive information about protein interactions, pathway involvement, and expression data across multiple databases . When designing experiments using At4g15610 antibodies, consulting these databases can provide valuable context about protein function and expression patterns.
When choosing an At4g15610 antibody, consider the approach used to generate it. Research has demonstrated that recombinant protein-based antibodies generally show higher success rates than peptide-based antibodies for Arabidopsis proteins. In a comprehensive study of 94 Arabidopsis antibodies, the success rate with peptide antibodies was very low, while recombinant protein approaches achieved approximately 55% detection rates .
For At4g15610 specifically, researchers should:
Review documentation to determine if the antibody was generated using peptides or recombinant proteins
Select recombinant protein-generated antibodies when possible
Verify that antigenic regions were selected with less than 40% sequence similarity to other proteins to minimize cross-reactivity
Confirm that affinity purification has been performed, as this significantly improves detection rates
Proper validation of At4g15610 antibodies is critical for ensuring experimental reliability. Based on established practices for Arabidopsis antibodies, researchers should implement the following validation protocol:
Initial quality control: Perform dot blots against recombinant protein to verify detection sensitivity (picogram range indicates good titer)
Specificity testing: Test against corresponding mutant backgrounds whenever possible, both by:
Cross-reactivity assessment: Examine potential cross-reactivity with closely related proteins, particularly important for protein families
Signal verification: Compare localization patterns with published data or fluorescent protein fusion studies when available
A properly validated At4g15610 antibody should show no detectable signal in corresponding mutant backgrounds, similar to validation performed for other Arabidopsis antibodies such as PIN1, PIN2, PIN3, and others .
Antibody purification significantly impacts detection success for Arabidopsis proteins, including At4g15610. Research demonstrates that generic purification methods (Caprylic acid precipitation, Protein A/G purification) often yield inadequate results, while affinity purification dramatically improves detection rates .
For optimal At4g15610 antibody performance:
Affinity purification protocol:
Express and purify recombinant At4g15610 protein (or antigenic region)
Couple purified protein to an appropriate matrix
Pass crude antiserum through the column
Elute and collect specific antibodies
Verify purification quality by SDS-PAGE or dot blot analysis
Concentration optimization:
Test multiple antibody concentrations (typically 1:100 to 1:5000 dilutions)
Determine optimal signal-to-noise ratio for your specific application
Without affinity purification, even high-titer antisera often fail to detect signals in applications like immunolocalization studies . The dramatic improvement in detection observed after affinity purification (from very few to 38 out of 70 antibodies showing high confidence signals) underscores the importance of this step for successful At4g15610 antibody applications.
When working with At4g15610 antibody, researchers may encounter low signal detection issues. Based on experiences with similar Arabidopsis antibodies, several technical approaches can address this challenge:
Signal amplification methods: Employ enhancement techniques such as tyramide signal amplification or polymer-based detection systems
Fixation optimization: Test multiple fixation protocols, as protein epitope accessibility can be fixative-dependent:
Aldehyde-based fixatives (paraformaldehyde, glutaraldehyde)
Alcohol-based fixatives (methanol, ethanol)
Combined approaches with different fixation times
Epitope retrieval: Apply antigen retrieval techniques, particularly for formalin-fixed samples:
Heat-induced epitope retrieval
Enzymatic retrieval methods
pH-modified buffer systems
Permeabilization adjustment: Optimize detergent type and concentration for improved antibody access to target sites
Blocking optimization: Test different blocking reagents (BSA, normal sera, commercial blockers) to reduce background while preserving specific signals
It's important to note that failure to detect signals may also indicate genuinely low protein abundance below detection thresholds, and not necessarily antibody failure .
For co-localization studies involving At4g15610, researchers should combine the antibody with established subcellular markers. Based on successful approaches with other Arabidopsis proteins, the following protocol is recommended:
Selection of compatible markers: Choose from validated subcellular markers that are compatible with At4g15610 antibody:
Multi-labeling protocol:
Use primary antibodies from different host species
Apply fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibodies with non-overlapping spectra
Include appropriate controls for antibody cross-reactivity
Capture images using sequential scanning to prevent bleed-through
Colocalization analysis:
Calculate Pearson's correlation coefficient or Manders' overlap coefficient
Perform intensity correlation analysis
Use appropriate software (ImageJ with JACoP or similar plugins) for quantification
Subcellular markers are extremely valuable tools for applications including colocalization and fractionation studies .
Epitope recognition challenges are common with plant protein antibodies, including those against At4g15610. Research on Arabidopsis antibodies has identified several factors that affect epitope recognition and potential solutions:
Discontinuous epitope issues: Prediction methods primarily identify continuous epitopes (individual stretches of amino acids), while epitopes are often discontinuous (involving distant subsequences brought together by tertiary structure). This limitation significantly impacts peptide antibody success rates .
Solution: Use longer recombinant protein fragments rather than short peptides, increasing the probability of capturing native conformational epitopes.
Protein folding differences: Synthetic peptides or recombinant proteins may not fold correctly, generating antibodies that fail to recognize native protein structures .
Solutions:
Express proteins in eukaryotic systems when possible
Include post-translational modifications where relevant
Employ partial denaturation strategies during immunization
Cross-reactivity with related proteins: For protein families, obtaining specific antibodies can be challenging.
Solutions:
Use bioinformatic analysis to identify unique antigenic regions with <40% similarity to other proteins
When unique regions cannot be identified, develop family-specific antibodies and combine with genetic approaches for specificity confirmation
Employ sliding window approaches to obtain smaller regions with reduced sequence similarity
Understanding these challenges is crucial for interpreting unexpected results with At4g15610 antibodies and developing appropriate experimental strategies.
When discrepancies arise between At4g15610 antibody localization and fluorescent protein fusion approaches, researchers should implement a systematic analytical approach:
Evaluation of potential artifacts:
Antibody artifacts: Cross-reactivity, fixation artifacts, non-specific binding
Fluorescent protein artifacts: Fusion-induced mislocalization, overexpression effects, altered trafficking
Complementary approaches:
Cell fractionation followed by western blot analysis
Super-resolution microscopy for improved spatial resolution
Proximity labeling methods (BioID, APEX)
Correlative light and electron microscopy for ultrastructural confirmation
Temporal considerations:
Analysis of protein dynamics through time-course experiments
Evaluation of different developmental stages or conditions
Quantitative comparison:
Quantification of signal distribution across subcellular compartments
Statistical analysis of colocalization with established markers
Genetic approaches:
Analysis in various mutant backgrounds
Complementation studies with antibody detection in parallel
These complementary approaches provide a more complete understanding of protein localization and can help resolve apparent discrepancies between different detection methods.
Recent advances in protein prediction and design could significantly enhance At4g15610 antibody development. The DyAb model, which leverages pre-trained protein language models with a pair-wise representation approach, demonstrates how machine learning can improve antibody design even with limited training data .
For At4g15610 antibody optimization, researchers could implement the following machine learning strategy:
Sequence-based antibody design:
Utilize pre-trained protein language models like AntiBERTy or LBSTER
Apply relative embedding computation between sequence pairs
Train models on available binding data, even with datasets as small as 100 labeled points
Employ genetic algorithms to sample design space and improve predicted binding affinity
Property prediction in low-data regimes:
Implementation framework:
Start with existing At4g15610 antibody sequence
Identify beneficial point mutations through small-scale experiments
Use machine learning models to predict optimal combinations of mutations
Test predicted high-performance variants experimentally
This approach could lead to At4g15610 antibodies with significantly improved sensitivity, specificity, and versatility for plant biology applications.
As plant biology moves toward multi-omics integration, At4g15610 antibodies can serve as valuable tools within a broader experimental framework:
Proteomics integration:
Use antibodies for protein quantification alongside mass spectrometry data
Apply for immunoprecipitation followed by protein complex analysis
Correlate protein levels with transcriptomic data for gene-protein expression relationships
Spatial biology applications:
Implement in spatial transcriptomics studies to correlate transcript and protein localization
Apply in tissue-specific protein extraction and analysis
Develop multiplex immunostaining approaches for spatial protein interaction networks
Temporal dynamics:
Deploy in time-series experiments to track protein expression changes
Correlate with metabolomic changes during development or stress responses
Monitor post-translational modifications in response to environmental stimuli
Cross-species comparative studies:
Test antibody cross-reactivity with related species
Analyze evolutionary conservation of protein localization and function
Develop standardized protocols for comparative plant biology
At4g15610 antibodies can provide critical data points within integrated datasets, particularly for understanding protein localization in the context of gene expression, metabolic changes, and developmental processes.