The At4g25040 antibody is a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody raised against the protein product of the At4g25040 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. This gene encodes an integral membrane protein hypothesized to play roles in cellular transport or signaling pathways . The antibody binds specifically to epitopes on the At4g25040 protein, enabling its detection and analysis in experimental settings .
Key identifiers:
The At4g25040 antibody has been employed in studies to:
Map protein expression patterns in Arabidopsis tissues.
Validate gene knockout or overexpression lines via Western blot .
At4g25040 is an Arabidopsis thaliana gene identifier following the Arabidopsis Genome Initiative (AGI) nomenclature system. While specific information about At4g25040 is limited in our search results, it belongs to a system where the first characters (At) denote the organism (Arabidopsis thaliana), followed by the chromosome number (4), and the specific locus identifier (g25040) . Based on similar genes in the Arabidopsis genome, it may encode a protein involved in membrane transport processes. The antibody against At4g25040 is designed to specifically recognize and bind to the protein product of this gene for research applications .
Validation of At4g25040 antibody would follow standard antibody validation protocols including:
Western blot analysis to confirm specific binding to the target protein at the expected molecular weight
Immunoprecipitation assays to verify antibody-antigen interactions
Immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence to determine spatial expression patterns
Negative controls using wild-type versus knockout plants
Cross-reactivity testing against related proteins
These validation steps are essential for ensuring that experimental results obtained with the At4g25040 antibody are reliable and reproducible. Researchers should conduct preliminary validation experiments before applying the antibody to their specific research questions.
For optimal preservation of antibody activity, the At4g25040 antibody should typically be stored according to manufacturer recommendations. Antibodies from CUSABIO-WUHAN HUAMEI BIOTECH Co., Ltd. generally require storage at -20°C for long-term stability, with aliquoting recommended to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles . For short-term use (1-2 weeks), storage at 4°C is often suitable. Addition of preservatives like sodium azide (0.02%) can help prevent microbial contamination during storage. Researchers should verify the specific storage conditions for their antibody lot, as variations may exist between production batches.
When using At4g25040 antibody for Western blot analysis, researchers should consider the following protocol optimizations:
Sample preparation: Extract proteins from plant tissues using appropriate buffers containing protease inhibitors
Protein loading: 20-50 μg of total protein per lane is typically sufficient
Primary antibody dilution: Start with 1:1000 to 1:5000 dilution in blocking buffer
Incubation conditions: Overnight at 4°C or 2 hours at room temperature
Detection system: HRP-conjugated secondary antibody with chemiluminescent detection
These conditions may require optimization based on the specific experimental system and antibody lot. Performing a dilution series experiment can help determine the optimal antibody concentration that provides the best signal-to-noise ratio.
To investigate tissue-specific expression patterns of the At4g25040 protein:
Collect different plant tissues (roots, leaves, stems, flowers, pollen) at various developmental stages
Prepare protein extracts using standardized protocols ensuring equal protein loading
Perform Western blot analysis using the At4g25040 antibody
Quantify band intensities relative to loading controls (e.g., actin, tubulin)
Create a tissue expression profile table similar to those used for membrane transporters in male gametophyte research
For spatial localization within tissues:
Fix tissue samples with paraformaldehyde
Section tissues and perform immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence
Use the At4g25040 antibody (1:100 to 1:500 dilution)
Counterstain with organelle-specific markers
Image using confocal microscopy
This approach allows researchers to determine both the relative abundance and subcellular localization of the At4g25040 protein across different tissues and developmental stages.
For rigorous immunoprecipitation experiments using At4g25040 antibody, the following controls are essential:
Input control: Sample of the original lysate before immunoprecipitation
No-antibody control: Beads only, to detect non-specific binding
Isotype control: Unrelated antibody of the same isotype to detect non-specific binding
Pre-immune serum control (if available): To establish baseline binding
Negative control: Lysate from plants lacking the target protein (knockout/knockdown)
A typical experimental design would include:
| Sample | Antibody | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | At4g25040 antibody | Specific protein pulldown |
| Control 1 | No antibody | Non-specific binding to beads |
| Control 2 | Isotype control | Non-specific binding to antibodies |
| Control 3 | Pre-immune serum | Background binding |
| Control 4 | At4g25040 antibody + knockout tissue | Antibody specificity validation |
This comprehensive set of controls helps distinguish between specific interactions and experimental artifacts.
When experiencing non-specific binding with At4g25040 antibody, consider the following systematic approach:
Optimize blocking conditions:
Test different blocking agents (5% non-fat milk, 3-5% BSA, commercial blockers)
Increase blocking time (2-3 hours at room temperature or overnight at 4°C)
Adjust antibody dilution:
Perform a dilution series (1:500 to 1:10,000)
Reduce incubation time if using higher concentrations
Modify washing steps:
Increase number of washes (5-6 times for 10 minutes each)
Add detergent (0.1-0.3% Tween-20) to washing buffer
Consider more stringent wash buffers
Pre-absorb the antibody:
Incubate with plant protein extract from knockout plants
Use a peptide competition assay to confirm specificity
Non-specific binding often presents as multiple bands or high background on Western blots. Document all optimization steps methodically to identify the most effective combination of conditions.
Signal variation when using At4g25040 antibody can stem from multiple sources that should be systematically investigated:
Antibody-related factors:
Lot-to-lot variations in antibody production
Antibody degradation due to improper storage
Freeze-thaw cycles affecting antibody activity
Sample preparation factors:
Inconsistent protein extraction efficiency
Protein degradation during sample handling
Variations in protein loading
Experimental conditions:
Fluctuations in transfer efficiency during Western blotting
Inconsistent blocking or washing
Development time variations
Biological factors:
Growth condition differences affecting protein expression
Developmental stage variations
Circadian or diurnal regulation of protein expression
To minimize these variations, implement standardized protocols, use consistent positive controls across experiments, and normalize signals to loading controls. A detailed experimental log tracking all variables can help identify the sources of variation.
Optimizing immunofluorescence with At4g25040 antibody in plant tissues requires addressing plant-specific challenges:
Fixation optimization:
Test different fixatives (4% paraformaldehyde, ethanol/acetic acid)
Optimize fixation duration (30 minutes to overnight)
Consider vacuum infiltration for better penetration
Cell wall considerations:
Enzymatic digestion with cellulase/macerozyme for partial cell wall removal
Adjust permeabilization conditions (0.1-1% Triton X-100)
Antibody penetration:
Use thinner tissue sections (5-10 μm)
Increase incubation times (overnight at 4°C)
Consider detergent concentration in antibody dilution buffer
Autofluorescence reduction:
Pre-treatment with sodium borohydride
Glycine treatment to quench aldehyde-induced fluorescence
Use of specific filters to distinguish signal from autofluorescence
Signal amplification (if needed):
Tyramide signal amplification
Secondary antibody with higher fluorophore conjugation ratio
Optimized protocols should be validated using positive and negative controls to ensure signal specificity before conducting extensive experiments.
For using At4g25040 antibody in co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) studies to identify protein interaction partners:
Sample preparation:
Use mild lysis buffers to preserve protein-protein interactions
Include protease inhibitors, phosphatase inhibitors if studying phosphorylated states
Consider crosslinking for transient interactions (0.5-1% formaldehyde)
Immunoprecipitation strategy:
Direct approach: Conjugate At4g25040 antibody to beads
Indirect approach: Use protein A/G beads to capture antibody-protein complexes
Pre-clear lysates to reduce non-specific binding
Elution and analysis methods:
Gentle elution with peptide competition
Mass spectrometry analysis of co-precipitated proteins
Targeted Western blot for suspected interaction partners
Validation of interactions:
Reciprocal co-IP with antibodies against identified partners
In vitro binding assays
Proximity ligation assays in intact tissues
This approach can reveal novel protein complexes and signaling networks involving the At4g25040 protein, potentially connecting it to known membrane transport mechanisms or male gametophyte development pathways documented in Arabidopsis research .
To investigate At4g25040 protein dynamics during development and stress responses, consider these methodological approaches:
Developmental timecourse analysis:
Sample collection at defined developmental stages
Quantitative Western blot analysis with At4g25040 antibody
Correlation with transcript levels via RT-qPCR
Creation of protein expression maps across tissues and timepoints
Stress-induced changes:
Apply defined stressors (drought, salt, pathogen, temperature)
Monitor protein levels at multiple timepoints post-treatment
Assess post-translational modifications using phospho-specific antibodies
Compare wild-type vs. mutant responses
Subcellular localization changes:
Cell fractionation followed by Western blotting
Live-cell imaging using fluorescently-tagged proteins
Co-localization with organelle markers
Turnover and stability studies:
Cycloheximide chase experiments to determine protein half-life
Proteasome inhibitors to assess degradation pathways
Pulse-chase labeling for newly synthesized protein
Similar approaches have been successfully used to characterize membrane transporters in Arabidopsis, revealing expression patterns that correlate with specific developmental processes like pollen development and germination .
Adapting chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) for use with At4g25040 antibody requires special considerations, especially if the protein has potential DNA-binding or chromatin-associated functions:
Preliminary assessments:
Bioinformatic analysis of At4g25040 for potential DNA-binding domains
Nuclear localization verification through subcellular fractionation
Pilot experiments to confirm chromatin association
Protocol adaptations:
Optimize crosslinking conditions (1-3% formaldehyde, 10-15 minutes)
Adjust sonication parameters for plant tissues (amplitude, pulse duration)
Use plant-specific nuclei isolation protocols
Include plant-specific controls (non-conserved genomic regions)
ChIP-specific controls:
Input DNA (pre-immunoprecipitation)
IgG control (non-specific binding)
Positive control regions (if known binding sites exist)
Negative control regions (non-target genomic loci)
Analysis approaches:
ChIP-qPCR for targeted analysis of suspected binding regions
ChIP-seq for genome-wide binding site identification
Integration with transcriptomic data to correlate binding with gene expression
Data presentation:
| Sample | Target Region | Fold Enrichment | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| At4g25040-Ab | Region 1 | Calculated value | Statistical significance |
| IgG Control | Region 1 | 1.0 (reference) | - |
| At4g25040-Ab | Negative control region | Expected low value | Statistical significance |
This specialized application would be particularly relevant if At4g25040 has potential roles in transcriptional regulation or chromatin organization.
An integrated approach combining At4g25040 antibody studies with gene expression analysis provides deeper insights into protein function:
Multi-level expression analysis:
Transcriptome analysis (RNA-seq or microarrays)
Protein-level detection (Western blot with At4g25040 antibody)
Activity assays (if enzymatic function is known)
Create correlation tables between transcript and protein levels
Genetic manipulation strategies:
Knockout/knockdown lines to study loss-of-function effects
Overexpression lines to study gain-of-function effects
Complementation studies using protein variants
Compare expression profiles between wild-type and mutant lines
Data integration approaches:
Time-course analyses correlating mRNA and protein levels
Tissue-specific expression mapping
Stress-responsive expression patterns
Co-expression network analysis
Functional validation experiments:
Phenotypic characterization of mutants
Biochemical assays of protein function
Protein-protein interaction studies
Subcellular localization confirmation
This integrative approach can place At4g25040 in the context of broader cellular processes, potentially connecting it to membrane transport systems like those documented in male gametophyte development research .
To effectively study At4g25040 protein abundance across developmental stages:
Comprehensive sampling strategy:
Define key developmental stages (germination, vegetative growth, flowering, seed development)
Include tissue-specific sampling (roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, pollen)
Use consistent harvesting protocols and timing
Consider diurnal variations by sampling at defined time points
Quantitative analysis methods:
Western blot with At4g25040 antibody and appropriate loading controls
ELISA for absolute quantification
Mass spectrometry-based proteomics for relative abundance
Normalize data to stable reference proteins
Experimental design considerations:
Biological replicates (minimum n=3)
Technical replicates for each biological sample
Include internal standards for cross-experiment normalization
Control for environmental variables
Data visualization and analysis:
| Developmental Stage | Tissue Type | Relative Protein Abundance | Statistical Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling (5 days) | Whole seedling | Quantified value | p-value |
| Vegetative (21 days) | Rosette leaves | Quantified value | p-value |
| Reproductive (35 days) | Pollen | Quantified value | p-value |
Similar experimental designs have revealed developmental regulation patterns for membrane transporters in Arabidopsis, showing tissue-specific expression profiles that correlate with biological functions .
Combining immunoprecipitation with mass spectrometry creates a powerful approach for studying post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the At4g25040 protein:
Optimized immunoprecipitation protocol:
Use larger scale protein extracts (1-5 mg total protein)
Minimize keratin contamination (wear gloves, work in clean environment)
Include phosphatase inhibitors if studying phosphorylation
Consider native vs. denaturing conditions based on research goals
Sample preparation for mass spectrometry:
In-gel or in-solution digestion with high-purity proteases
Enrichment strategies for specific PTMs:
TiO₂ for phosphopeptides
Lectin affinity for glycopeptides
Antibody enrichment for acetylation/methylation
Mass spectrometry analysis:
High-resolution MS/MS for accurate PTM site identification
Multiple fragmentation methods (CID, HCD, ETD) for comprehensive coverage
Data-dependent and data-independent acquisition strategies
Bioinformatic analysis:
PTM site localization scoring
Motif analysis around modified sites
Structural implications of modifications
Conservation analysis across species
Functional validation:
Site-directed mutagenesis of identified PTM sites
Antibodies against specific PTM sites
Functional assays to determine effects of modifications
This approach could reveal regulatory mechanisms controlling At4g25040 protein function, potentially connecting it to signaling networks involved in plant development and stress responses.